St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction for Sunday August 16 2026

The St. Louis Cardinals (62-61) face off against the Chicago Cubs (72-52) at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Get involved in the action with our free MLB picks.

St. Louis vs. Chicago Game Information

• August 16, 2026
• 3:00 PM EST
• Wrigley Field
• ABC

Chicago Form & Recent Results

Chicago enters this matchup coming off a loss, though the Cubs have still played solid baseball lately with three wins over their last five games. During that span, they picked up one victory at home against the Cardinals and added two more on the road against the Nationals in Washington. In Saturday’s 8-4 home loss to St. Louis, designated hitter Michael Conforto was one of the bright spots for Chicago, going 1-for-2 with a home run, one run scored, and three RBI. The Cubs finished the game with eight hits, while their pitching staff gave up seven hits to the Cardinals.

For the season, Pete Crow-Armstrong has been one of Chicago’s top offensive contributors, leading the team with 27 home runs while also carrying a team-best .277 batting average. Seiya Suzuki has also been a major part of the Cubs’ lineup, ranking second on the team with 21 home runs and leading Chicago with 73 RBI. Over their last five games, the Cubs have averaged 5.4 runs per game, and they’ll look to keep the offense moving as they try to take the series finale against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.

St. Louis Form & Recent Results

St. Louis comes into this matchup with a little momentum after winning its most recent game, and the Cardinals have now taken three of their last five overall. Those victories include one on the road against the Cubs in Chicago and two at home against the Phillies, giving them some encouraging results against quality competition. Their 8-4 win over the Cubs on Saturday was especially memorable because of the incredible debut performance from left fielder Joshua Baez. In his first Major League game, Baez went 3-for-4 with three home runs, three runs scored, and three RBI. Even more impressively, he became the first player in MLB history to hit three home runs in his first three big-league at-bats, making it a debut Cardinals fans will not forget anytime soon.

St. Louis also received a strong outing on the mound in that win, as starting pitcher Michael McGreevy worked six scoreless innings while giving up just five hits. He walked two batters and struck out six, helping keep the Cubs’ offense under control while the Cardinals’ lineup built a lead. As a team, St. Louis finished the game with five home runs and twenty-two total bases, showing plenty of power throughout the lineup. For the season, Jordan Walker leads the Cardinals with twenty-three home runs, while Alec Burleson sits right behind him with twenty. Burleson has been one of the team’s most productive bats overall, leading St. Louis with eighty-six RBI and a .285 batting average. Over their last five games, the Cardinals have averaged 4.4 runs per game, and they will try to keep that offense going as they look to win the series at Wrigley Field.

Key Stats

• St. Louis’ Alec Burleson this season: 20 HRs, 86 RBI, .285 AVG
• Chicago’s Seiya Suzuki this season: 21 HRs, 73 RBI, .274 AVG

St. Louis vs. Chicago Picks and Prediction

Joshua Baez delivered a debut to remember, becoming the first player to homer in each of his first three major league at-bats. It was the kind of performance that can energize an entire clubhouse, and the Cardinals will try to carry that spark into Sunday’s series finale against the Cubs. With the matchup tied at one game apiece, St. Louis has a chance to turn Baez’s historic arrival into a series win. The Cardinals will hand the ball to Hunter Dobbins, who enters the game with a 2-3 record and a 3.40 ERA. He’ll be looking to give St. Louis a steady outing and keep Chicago’s lineup in check. The Cubs will counter with Edward Cabrera, who is 5-4 on the season with a 5.10 ERA. With both teams chasing a win in the rubber match, Sunday’s game should have plenty of energy from the start. Final Score Prediction, Chicago Cubs win 4-3.