The St. Louis Cardinals are gearing up to face ace Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs in the series finale on Thursday. Imanaga, back from a left hamstring injury, boasts an impressive 2.82 ERA and 1.097 WHIP from his eight starts in 2025. His strikeout rate has been solid, but he has struggled against right-handed hitters, with a .231 average against them prior to his injury.

This matchup is crucial for the Cardinals, who trail the Cubs by 4.5 games in the NL Central. Masyn Winn and Nolan Arenado are key players to watch, with Winn showing success against Imanaga in his career. A win would help the Cardinals maintain momentum following a recent five-game winning streak.