The Chicago Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on Sunday, August 16, with first pitch set for 3:15 PM ET. Edward Cabrera gets the ball for Chicago against Cardinals right-hander Hunter Dobbins in what shapes up as a pivotal NL Central matchup. The Cubs send out a deep lineup featuring Pete Crow-Armstrong leading off, Alex Bregman hitting third, and Ian Happ anchoring the cleanup spot. Catch the game on ABC/ESPN App or listen locally on 104.3 The Score.

Cubs vs. Cardinals Pitching Matchup: Cabrera vs. Dobbins

Edward Cabrera draws the start for the Cubs, taking the mound at Clark and Addison in what is a significant opportunity to make his case in the Chicago rotation. Cabrera has the raw stuff to keep Cardinals hitters off-balance — a lively fastball and a swing-and-miss breaking ball when he's locked in. The key for Cabrera is command. When he throws strikes early in counts, he's a different pitcher, and a raucous Wrigley crowd behind him Sunday afternoon doesn't hurt.

Hunter Dobbins gets the nod for St. Louis. The Cardinals will lean on Dobbins to keep a loaded Cubs lineup in check, no small task given what Chicago is putting on the field. This is a real test for the young Cardinals arm against a lineup that has legitimate thunder from top to bottom.

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineup

• 1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
• 2. Seiya Suzuki, RF
• 3. Alex Bregman, 3B
• 4. Ian Happ, LF
• 5. Nico Hoerner, 2B
• 6. Pedro Ramírez, 1B
• 7. Dansby Swanson, SS
• 8. Michael Conforto, DH
• 9. Miguel Amaya, C

St. Louis Cardinals Starting Lineup

• 1. JJ Wetherholt, 2B
• 2. Iván Herrera, DH
• 3. Alec Burleson, 1B
• 4. Jordan Walker, RF
• 5. Joshua Báez, LF
• 6. Nathan Church, CF
• 7. Masyn Winn, SS
• 8. Jimmy Crooks, C
• 9. Blaze Jordan, 3B

Keys to Watch at Wrigley Field

Crow-Armstrong Sets the Tone at the Top

Pete Crow-Armstrong leading off is the engine of this Cubs offense. When PCA gets on base and uses his speed, it creates chaos for opposing pitchers before the middle of the order even steps in. If he's making Dobbins work early, this lineup gets dangerous fast.

Bregman and Happ in the Heart of the Order

Alex Bregman hitting third and Ian Happ in the cleanup spot gives the Cubs genuine run-producing punch. Bregman's ability to work counts and drive runners in, combined with Happ's power from the left side, will test Dobbins from the third inning on. If those two are locked in, St. Louis is in for a long afternoon.

Cabrera's Command Against a Cardinals Lineup Built on Contact

The Cardinals lineup, with Winn, Burleson, and Walker, is not one to take lightly. St. Louis makes contact and works at-bats. Cabrera needs to stay ahead in counts and resist the urge to overthrow. His best outings come when he trusts his stuff and pounds the zone.

Prediction

The Cubs take this one at home. Cabrera delivers a quality start — six innings, three runs or fewer — and the Chicago lineup does enough damage against Dobbins in the middle innings to pull away. Wrigley Field on a Sunday afternoon with the Cardinals in town is exactly the kind of atmosphere this Cubs group feeds on. Cubs win, 5-3.