The Chicago Cubs welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to Wrigley Field on Saturday, August 15, for a 2:20 PM ET first pitch that carries all the weight this rivalry always does. Matthew Boyd gets the ball for the Cubs opposite Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy. With a full lineup card on both sides — including Alex Bregman batting cleanup and JJ Wetherholt leading off for St. Louis — this is a midseason NL Central clash that neither club can afford to treat lightly. Catch it on Marquee Sports Network or listen on 104.3 The Score.

Pitching Matchup: Boyd vs. McGreevy

Matthew Boyd draws the Saturday assignment for Chicago. A veteran left-hander who has bounced back from significant injury in recent years, Boyd gives the Cubs a crafty, experienced arm capable of eating innings and keeping a potent Cardinals lineup off-balance with a varied pitch mix. The key for Boyd will be working efficiently through a St. Louis order that features legitimate contact hitters from top to bottom.

Michael McGreevy gets the call for St. Louis. The young right-hander has shown flashes of being a reliable mid-rotation piece for the Cardinals, relying on command rather than pure stuff. If the Cubs lineup is locked in early — and with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Michael Busch slotted 1-2-3, they have the tools to do exactly that — McGreevy will need to be sharp from the first pitch.

Cubs Lineup: Keys to Watch at Wrigley Field

Manager Craig Counsell has set a formidable batting order against the Cardinals right-hander. Crow-Armstrong leads off out of center field, Suzuki bats second in right, and Busch holds down the three-hole at first base. Bregman slots in fourth at third base, giving the Cubs a genuine middle-of-the-order presence. Ian Happ follows at fifth, with Nico Hoerner at shortstop and Pedro Ramírez at second base rounding out the bottom of the top half. Michael Conforto bats eighth as the designated hitter, and Miguel Amaya handles catching duties ninth.

Cardinals Lineup: Threats to Know

• JJ Wetherholt (2B, leadoff): The young second baseman sets the table. How he handles Boyd's offerings early could dictate the Cardinals' offensive tone for the afternoon.
• Jordan Walker (RF, No. 3): Walker has the raw tools to do damage at Wrigley. Boyd must keep him from getting comfortable.
• Alec Burleson (1B, cleanup): A left-handed bat with power batting fourth — Boyd will need a plan here given that lefty-on-lefty dynamic.
• Masyn Winn (SS, No. 6): One of the better young shortstops in the league. Don't let the bottom half of this order fool you — it has teeth.

Three Keys to a Cubs Win

• Boyd's pitch efficiency: If Boyd can work deep into the game and limit traffic through the first four innings, Chicago's bullpen will be in a strong spot late.
• PCA and Suzuki at the top: The Cubs need their 1-2 punch to create havoc early against McGreevy before he settles in. Early pressure flips the dynamic at Wrigley.
• Bregman with runners on base: Batting cleanup, Bregman is the hinge of this lineup. If the Cubs get runners on in front of him in the middle innings, he needs to deliver.

Prediction

This is a rivalry game, and both pitchers are capable of keeping the score close into the seventh. McGreevy's command-first approach can be vulnerable when the Cubs put together consecutive hard-contact at-bats, and with the top of Chicago's order loaded with on-base ability, look for the Cubs to work a few deep counts and eventually break through. Boyd keeps the Cardinals honest long enough for the bullpen to hold it. Cubs win, 4-2, on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.