The Chicago Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on Sunday, July 5, with first pitch set for 2:30 PM ET. Javier Assad gets the ball for Chicago against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore in what shapes up as a pivotal mid-summer divisional clash. With the NL Central race at stake every time these two franchises square off, this one carries real weight — the kind of afternoon game at Clark and Addison that Wrigley Field was built for.

Cubs vs. Cardinals Starting Pitchers: Assad vs. Liberatore

Javier Assad has developed into one of the more intriguing arms in the Cubs rotation. The right-hander has shown the ability to mix his pitches effectively and keep hitters off balance, and a home start at Wrigley Field — where the Cubs crowd can provide genuine energy — should work in his favor. Assad needs to attack the Cardinals lineup early and avoid deep counts that let St. Louis hitters work him into trouble.

Matthew Liberatore is a young left-hander who has shown flashes of frontline potential but remains inconsistent. The Cubs lineup, stacked right-handed, should be able to generate traffic against him if they stay disciplined at the plate and resist chasing his fastball-changeup combo when he's locating it well.

Chicago Cubs Lineup and Keys to Watch

Manager's lineup card puts Pete Crow-Armstrong at the top, setting the table with his speed and on-base ability. Alex Bregman bats second, a move that highlights just how much this Cubs offense has evolved — Bregman's veteran presence and situational hitting gives Chicago a genuine middle-of-the-order threat before you even get to Seiya Suzuki hitting third. Carson Kelly, Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, and Kevin Alcántara round out the nine.

• Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF, leadoff): If PCA gets on base, this Cubs offense is tough to shut down. His speed changes the game.
• Alex Bregman (3B, 2-hole): Bregman's ability to work counts and drive runners in makes him a nightmare for a young pitcher like Liberatore.
• Seiya Suzuki (RF, 3-hole): Suzuki has the bat and the discipline to be the most dangerous out in the lineup when he's locked in.
• Nico Hoerner (2B, 6-hole): Hoerner's contact rate and baseball IQ make him dangerous anywhere in the order — don't sleep on him here.

St. Louis Cardinals Lineup: Threats to Watch

St. Louis counters with a lineup that features real pop. Jordan Walker bats cleanup and has the power to punish a mistake. Lars Nootbaar in the five-hole is a patient hitter who can foul off pitches and grind at-bats. Masyn Winn at shortstop brings athleticism and a solid bat, and rookie JJ Wetherholt leading off gives the Cardinals a dynamic presence at the top. Assad cannot afford to leave pitches middle-middle against this group — Walker in particular will make him pay.

Prediction: Cubs Win a Close One

This has the makings of a tight, well-pitched divisional game on a Sunday afternoon at Wrigley. Assad keeps the Cardinals lineup in check through six innings, the Cubs offense does enough damage against Liberatore in the middle innings — expect Bregman and Suzuki to be involved — and Chicago takes this one by a score of 4-2. The Cubs bullpen will need to hold the line, but on a day like this at Wrigley Field, the home crowd and the home team have the edge.

Catch the game on Peacock/NBCSN Extra on TV or tune in on 104.3 The Score on FM radio.