The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals bring their storied rivalry to Wrigley Field on Saturday, July 4, 2026, with first pitch set for 8:08 PM ET. Shota Imanaga toes the rubber for Chicago against Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy in what figures to be a packed house under the summer sky on the North Side. With the Cubs sending one of their most reliable starters to the mound in a nationally televised FOX broadcast, this Independence Day showdown carries real weight in what should be a pivotal stretch of the season.

Pitching Matchup: Imanaga vs. Leahy

Shota Imanaga is the unquestioned ace of this Cubs staff, and getting him on the mound for a holiday night game against St. Louis is exactly what manager Craig Counsell draws it up to be. Imanaga's ability to generate weak contact and miss bats with his splitter makes him a nightmare for any lineup, and the Cardinals will need to be disciplined early to have any chance of getting to him.

Kyle Leahy is the question mark on the other side. The Cardinals right-hander is a less proven commodity at this level, and the Cubs should look to exploit that early. Imanaga versus a Cardinals offense that will try to grind at-bats — this is a pitching-first game, and the team that controls the strike zone wins it.

Cubs Lineup Keys to Watch

• Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF, leadoff): PCA setting the table is crucial. His ability to get on base and create chaos on the basepaths puts immediate pressure on Leahy and the Cardinals defense.
• Alex Bregman (3B, No. 2): Bregman hitting second gives the Cubs a disciplined, high-IQ bat right behind PCA. He has the experience to work counts and put runners in scoring position.
• Seiya Suzuki (DH, cleanup): Suzuki in the four hole is a genuine threat. If the Cubs get runners on in the first few innings, Leahy will face a very uncomfortable situation with Suzuki waiting.
• Nico Hoerner (2B, No. 6): Hoerner's contact skills keep the lineup from having a dead spot in the middle. His ability to put the ball in play and move runners keeps pressure continuous.

Cardinals Lineup Threats

• Jordan Walker (RF, No. 3): Walker is the Cardinals' most dangerous bat in this lineup. Imanaga will need to be sharp against him, particularly with runners on base.
• Masyn Winn (SS, No. 5): Winn is an athletic, pesky hitter who can make things happen. He's the type of player who beats you in ways that don't always show up in the box score.
• Lars Nootbaar (LF, No. 7): Nootbaar has a solid understanding of the strike zone and can work a walk, which matters against a pitcher as command-reliant as Imanaga.

Three Keys to a Cubs Victory

• Imanaga goes deep into the game and limits the Cardinals to two runs or fewer through six innings.
• The Cubs offense jumps on Leahy early — within the first two innings — and forces St. Louis to turn to their bullpen sooner than they'd like.
• Miguel Amaya handles the game behind the plate and keeps Imanaga's splitter sharp, which is the pitch that defines whether this outing is a gem or a grind.

Prediction

This one sets up well for Chicago. Imanaga is at the top of his game when he has proper run support, and a Cardinals lineup leaning heavily on youth gives him a real chance to dominate. Leahy, meanwhile, faces a deep Cubs order in a hostile Wrigley Field environment on a holiday night with a national audience watching. The Cubs offense does just enough early, Imanaga delivers seven strong innings, and Chicago sends the Wrigley faithful home happy on the Fourth of July. Cubs 4, Cardinals 2.