Cardinals vs Cubs Preview: Young Arms Face Off on Sunday

The Cardinals came out swinging on Thursday and put on a hitting clinic. They hammered the Cubs 17-1 in a game where the bats just would not stop. Church sent one rocketing over the wall for a three-run homer. Winn followed with his own blast to left-center that sailed 391 feet. The Cardinals pounded hit after hit across their first five innings. Every time you blinked, another runner crossed home plate. This is not the team you want to face when they get hot.

The Cubs turn to one of their most reliable arms on Sunday. Shota Imanaga is no stranger to big moments. He was an All-Star in his first season with Chicago and earned that honor the hard way. Before joining the Cubs, Imanaga played in Japan where he was a two-time All-Star. He even led his league in strikeouts before making the jump to MLB. His nickname is the Throwing Philosopher because he thinks through every pitch. You can expect him to be sharp and in control against a Cardinals lineup that just destroyed his team.

Both teams are counting on younger arms to step up and deliver. The Cardinals have Matthew Liberatore and Dustin May leading their rotation. These guys have real talent and need to prove they can be trusted in big games. For Chicago, the Cubs are developing pitchers like Cade Horton. The pitching does not need to be perfect, just steady and strong. Kyle Leahy starts for St. Louis on Sunday. These young pitchers are building their futures one start at a time.