The Chicago Cubs make the trip down I-55 to Busch Stadium on Wednesday, July 29, for a 7:45 PM ET showdown with the St. Louis Cardinals. Matthew Boyd gets the ball for Chicago against Cardinals right-hander Dustin May in what shapes up as a classic NL Central rivalry matchup. Cubs fans can catch the action on Marquee Sports Network or listen in on 104.3 The Score. With the dog days of summer in full swing, every game against St. Louis carries division-race weight, and this one is no different.

Cubs vs. Cardinals Game Preview: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at Busch Stadium

Pitching Matchup: Boyd vs. May

Matthew Boyd draws the start for the Cubs. Boyd is a left-handed veteran whose value comes from his ability to locate the fastball and mix in his changeup and slider to keep lineups off-balance. Against a Cardinals lineup that leans on contact-oriented hitters, Boyd's ability to generate weak contact early in counts will be the central storyline of his night.

Dustin May gets the nod for St. Louis. May is a power arm who relies heavily on his sinker to induce ground balls, and Busch Stadium's spacious outfield plays to that approach. The Cubs' lineup will need to lift the ball and resist the urge to roll over on May's heavy stuff down in the zone.

St. Louis Starting Lineup to Watch

The Cardinals are sending out a lineup with some intriguing names. Key players to track on the St. Louis side include:

• JJ Wetherholt (2B, leadoff): A young middle infielder setting the table at the top of the order. His ability to get on base will dictate the early pace of the game.
• Jordan Walker (RF, No. 2): Walker has the tools to do damage anywhere in the order. Boyd cannot afford to let him get extended on anything middle-out.
• Iván Herrera (DH, No. 3): Herrera in the three-hole gives St. Louis a professional at-bat in a critical spot. He's patient and makes pitchers work.
• Alec Burleson (1B, cleanup): The cleanup spot is where games get decided. Burleson has pop, and Boyd will need to be careful with anything over the inner half.
• Masyn Winn (SS, No. 5): Winn is one of the better young shortstops in the league. His speed on the bases adds a dimension the Cubs' defense must account for.

Keys to the Game for the Cubs

• Boyd's ground-ball management: May is going to generate weak contact from the Cubs side. Boyd needs to respond in kind and keep St. Louis off the bases in the early innings to set the tone.
• Attacking May early in counts: May's sinker is most effective when hitters are behind in the count. The Cubs' lineup needs to be aggressive in hitter's counts and resist chasing low-and-away pitches out of the zone.
• Bullpen readiness: With no ERA or pitch-count data available heading in, the Cubs' coaching staff will need to monitor Boyd's pitch efficiency closely and have the 'pen ready to protect any lead.
• Capitalizing on the middle of the Cardinals order: St. Louis is stacking its lineup with contact-first hitters. The Cubs' defense needs to be clean and play through routine opportunities.

Prediction

This one has the feel of a tight, low-scoring affair. Both May and Boyd are pitchers who live on contact and location rather than swing-and-miss stuff, which typically produces grindy games with premium on situational hitting. The edge goes to St. Louis at home with May on the mound in a ballpark that suits his profile. But Boyd has the experience and the repertoire to keep the Cubs competitive deep into the game. Expect a 3-2 Cardinals win — though a Cubs comeback late in a rivalry game at Busch is never out of the question.