Cubs vs. Cardinals: Game 3 prediction, odds, injuries, and picks

NL Central rivals the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals are gearing up for an action-packed contest as the former look to avoid a series loss heading into Game 3. After a thrashing in the opener on Monday, the Northsiders lost 8-7 the following day.

Matthew Boyd has been assigned to prevent the Cardinals from claiming the series at home. Boyd has been stellar this season with a 6-3 record and a 2.84 ERA across 85 2/3 innings. St. Louis will start Erick Fedde in hopes of climbing the NL Central standings. Fedde has a 3-6 card with a 3.54 ERA in 84 innings pitched.

Cubs vs. Cardinals recent form and records

The Cubbies are now on a three-game skid. Although they're still at the top of the divisional standings with a 46-33 record, both the Brewers and Cardinals are hot on their tails and are just 2.5 games behind.

The Cards are the hottest team in the NL Central having won eight of their last 10 games. After a sluggish start, Oli Marmol's squad have leaped up the standings and are now threatening the Northsiders for the top spot.

Cubs vs. Cardinals odds

Money Line: CHC (-139), STL (+127)

Run Spread: CHC -1.5 (+114), STL +1.5 (-134)

Total Runs: O 8.5 (-116), U 8.5 (-102)

Cubs vs. Cardinals injuries

CHC injury report

Shota Imanaga (SP): 15-day IL (hamstring)
Miguel Amaya (C): 10-day IL (oblique)
Javier Assad (SP): 60-day IL (oblique)
Eli Morgan (RP): 60-day IL (elbow)
Justin Steele (SP): 60-day IL (elbow)
Porter Hodge (RP): 15-day IL (oblique, hip)

STL injury report

Ivan Herrera (C): 10-day IL (hamstring)
Zack Thompson (RP): 60-day IL (lat)

Cubs vs. Cardinals projected lineup

CHC projected lineup

Ian Happ (LF)
Kyle Tucker (RF)
Seiya Suzuki (DH)
Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF)
Dansby Swanson (SS)
Michael Busch (1B)
Carson Kelly (C)
Nico Hoerner (2B)
Matt Shaw (3B)
Matthew Boyd (SP, 6-3 | 2.84 ERA | 79 K)

STL projected lineup

Brendan Donovan (LF)
Masyn Wynn (SS)
Alec Burleson (DH)
Willson Contreras (1B)
Nolan Arenado (3B)
Thomas Saggese (2B)
Jordan Walker
Pedro Pages (C)
Garrett Hampson (CF)
Erick Fedde (SP, 3-6 | 3.54 ERA | 55 K)

Cubs vs. Cardinals picks and game prediction

Chicago starter Matthew Boyd is in better form than his opposite Erick Fedde. With the series on the line, the NL Central leaders are poised to end their skid and exact revenge against their rivals in Game 3.

Run Line: CHC -1.5 (+114)

Total Runs: O 8.5 (-116)

Prediction: CHC wins, 6-4

About the author

Daniel Santiago is a journalist who has been reporting on baseball at Sportskeeda since 2022. He was drawn towards the sport after the underlying statistics and the analysis surrounding it grabbed his attention.

Daniel particularly enjoys furnishing reports about historic events in baseball and analyzing the game through a statistic-based outlook, based on Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference. This is in line with how he enjoyed watching baseball as a pastime. As a writer, he is very particular about cross-checking from reputable sources and doing his due diligence.

He became a lifelong Hideki Matsui fan after his exploits in the 2009 World Series for the New York Yankees. Among the current generation, Daniel's favorites include Shohei Ohtani and Jung Hoo Lee. Daniel is a huge follower of Asian baseball and both Ohtani and Lee have been in the top echelon of their respective leagues during their time with the NPB and KBO.

His favorite moment as a baseball fan was the final at-bat of the 2023 World Baseball Classic between Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. He believes there aren't many words to fittingly describe the intensity of the moment.

As an avid sports fan, Daniel watches other sports and Esports when not writing about baseball.

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Edited by Daniel Santiago

Cubs vs. Cardinals: Game 3 prediction, odds, injuries, and picks - June 25, 2025