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Cardinals Back on the Road Following Split with Cubs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jacob Webb | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 11:00 AM ET

Vibes couldn't have been higher for the Cardinals following an 8-7 win over the rival Cubs on Tuesday night. The win put them just 2.5 games out of first place in the NL Central.

The final two games of the four-game set went nothing like the first two, though, as the Cubs picked up two shutout victories to split the series. With that, the Cardinals find themselves in the same spot they were in prior to the Cubs series, 4.5 games out of first place.

The Cardinals (44-38) will now travel to Cleveland for a three-game series with the Guardians, who are 40-39 and currently occupy second place in the AL Central.

Friday, June 27, 6:10 p.m. CT

How to watch/listen: Apple TV+, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM

Probable starters:

Cardinals: Sonny Gray (7-2, 3.72 ERA)

Guardians: Luis L. Ortiz (4-8, 4.30 ERA)

Saturday, June 28, 3:10 p.m. CT

How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM

Probable starters:

Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.31 ERA)

Guardians: Slade Cecconi (3-3, 3.38 ERA)

Sunday, June 29, 11:05 a.m. CT

How to watch/listen: Roku, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM

Probable starters:

Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore (5-6, 3.96 ERA)

Guardians: Logan Allen (5-5, 4.25 ERA)

What to watch for:

1. Is Lars Nootbaar healthy?

After connecting for a two-run homer in each of the first two games against the Cubs, Nootbaar sat out for the remainder of the series after receiving an anti-inflammatory shot to help ease some pain he was having in his rib cage. The Cardinals went scoreless over the next 18 innings without him in the lineup. Nootbaar is expected to be available for tonight's game.

2. Future Hall of Fame third basemen square off

Nolan Arenado and José Ramírez are two of the premier third basemen in baseball and have been for a long time. Arenado has been one of the best defenders in baseball this year and seems to have figured things out at the plate as of late. Meanwhile, Ramírez appears to be headed to his fifth straight MLB All-Star Game, as he's having another incredible year on both sides of the ball.

3. Sonny Gray faces familiar foe

Sonny Gray is no stranger to facing Cleveland. The veteran right-handed pitcher, who spent two years in the AL Central with the Twins, has faced the Guardians 19 times in his career. In those 19 starts, he's 6-5 with a 3.47 ERA and 100 strikeouts. Friday night's game will mark Gray's first start against the Guardians as a Cardinal.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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