Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/25/2022

Time: 2:15 p.m. ET

Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Where to watch: Apple TV+

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Cubs: 26-44

Cardinals: 40-32

It's been a long time coming for Paul Goldschmidt. I think the St. Louis Cardinals have waited for this type of production for a hot minute. Four years in, and Goldschmidt has been a steady hand in the Cardinals' lineup since being acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Yet, he hasn't been an All-Star, nor has he been that MVP candidate he was in Arizona.

The time has come in what is shaping up to be the best offensive year in Goldschmidt's potential Hall-of-Fame career. Entering Friday as the Cardinals begin a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs, Goldschmidt is batting .340 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI. He's on pace to shatter each of last year's marks from those categories, especially batting average.

Goldschmidt's career-high mark is .321 set in 2015. That year, at 27 years old, Goldschmidt also hit 33 homers and drove in 110 runs. Career-highs for most, but not for Goldschmidt. He had 36 homers and 125 RBI just two years prior, when he began turning into an All-Star.

He hasn't eclipsed 100 RBI in a season since 2017 when he finished third in MVP voting. Not only is he on pace to do that with a couple of months left in the season, he may surpass 125 while keeping his average above .330. That's how good he's been. He's already at a career-high in slugging percentage at .625, and his 1.048 OPS is the highest of his career right now.

What a time for Goldschmidt to be this way.

And in all honesty, Goldschmidt was on that way last year to being an MVP candidate for the Cardinals in their late surge toward the playoffs. But he ran out of gas due to nagging back tightness. He's played 68 games this year, but has never played all 162. He got some rest on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

“We’re all looking for any edge we can get to help us perform and win,” Goldschmidt said. “There’s so much more that they can measure now. I do think some of that has to be done by the coaches and training staff. As a player, you’re so competitive you want to play every day. No matter what, I can go out there and perform. It’s nice to have help when the coaches take it out of your hand. They have a plan. It’s hard as a player to rest or not play, but sometimes that’s the best thing, long-term.”

Goldschmidt anchors a lineup that might be the most diverse in terms of youth and veterans in the league. Rookies Nolan Gorman and Brendan Donovan have been great producers, as well as fellow rookie Juan Yepez. And then there's Nolan Arenado, who actually played the role of the Cardinals' MVP at the beginning of the year but has since cooled off. Thankfully for the Cardinals, Goldschmidt has carried that load.

From May 7 to June 3, Goldschmidt had a 25-game hitting streak to which his entire repertoire was on display. He was hitting an astounding .424 with 10 homers and 36 RBI. Surprisingly enough, the Cardinals went only 13-12 in that stretch. If that was over a 162-game stretch, he'd hit 65 homers and 233 RBI. Since the end of that streak, he hasn't cooled off. Goldschmidt has hit .323 and driven in 14 runs over the last 17 games.

Whether or not Goldschmidt can keep these numbers up is the greater mystery. But there's no doubt that he's been the reason why the Cardinals have remained as competitive as they have. Even if they falter a little bit, he's the frontrunner for NL MVP right now, with Manny Machado on his tail.

I fully expect the Cardinals to sweep this series, with Goldschmidt leading the way. The Cubs are just too battered and bruised right now, physically and via ego. Cardinals win 7-3

Cubs are 1-7 on Friday games this season, 16-28 the past three seasons.

Cubs are 25-44 as underdog between +125 and +175 the past three seasons.

Cardinals are 15-4 this season when line is between -100 and -150.

Cardinals are 10-3 as home favorite between -125 and -175 this season.

Cubs:
Christopher Morel (R) CF
Willson Contreras (R) C
Ian Happ (S) LF
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Yan Gomes (R) DH
Jonathan Villar (S) 2B
Nico Hoerner (R) SS
Nelson Velazquez (R) RF
P.J. Higgins (R) 1B
SP - TBD

Cardinals:
Tommy Edman (S) SS
Dylan Carlson (S) RF
Paul Goldschmidt (R) DH
Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
Juan Yepez (R) LF
Albert Pujols (R) 1B
Nolan Gorman (L) 2B
Harrison Bader (R) CF
Andrew Knizner (R) C
SP - Miles Mikolas

Batting average: Ian Happ -- .289

Home runs: Patrick Wisdom -- 14

RBI: Patrick Wisdom -- 37

Wins: Keegan Thompson -- 7

ERA: Keegan Thompson -- 3.10

Batting average: Paul Goldschmidt -- .340

Home runs: Paul Goldschmidt -- 17

RBI: Paul Goldschmidt -- 61

Wins: Miles Mikolas -- 5

ERA: Miles Mikolas -- 2.64