If you’ve ever stood on the corner of Clark and Addison in a blue jersey or wandered near Clark Avenue in St. Louis wearing red, you know it’s not just a game. It’s a centuries-old argument that never quite gets settled. Honestly, the Cubs vs Cardinals rivalry is the closest thing American sports has to a European soccer feud, minus the flares in the stands—usually.
People talk about the Yankees and Red Sox, but that feels corporate. This? This is about the I-55. It’s about families in central Illinois who haven't spoken since the 2015 NLDS. It’s deep.
What Really Happened in the 2025 Season
Last year was a weird one for both squads, but the head-to-head stats tell a specific story. The Chicago Cubs actually took the regular-season series, finishing with a 92-70 record overall, while St. Louis stumbled to a 78-84 finish. You’d think that would quiet the trash talk in Missouri, but Cardinals fans will immediately point to the 11 World Series rings sitting in their trophy case.
Chicago’s three rings? They look a little lonely by comparison.
The most insane moment of 2025 happened on the Fourth of July. If you weren't watching, you missed the Cubs absolutely dismantling the Cards 11-3 at Wrigley. Michael Busch turned into a literal superhero that day, hitting three home runs in a single game. The Cubs set a franchise record with eight homers in total.
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Miles Mikolas was on the mound for St. Louis, and he ended up tying an MLB record for the most home runs allowed in a single game. It was brutal. It was also exactly what makes this rivalry so "kinda" perfect—one day you're the hero, the next you're a historical footnote for all the wrong reasons.
The All-Time Numbers (And Why They’re Liars)
If you look at the raw data, the Cubs actually hold a slight lead in the all-time regular-season series. As of the start of 2026, the count stands at 1,289 wins for the Cubs and 1,234 for the Cardinals. There have even been 20 ties, which feels impossible in modern baseball but reminds you just how long these guys have been hitting each other's fastballs.
But here is where the nuance kicks in:
- The Cardinals have 19 NL pennants; the Cubs have 17.
- Postseason matchups are a dead heat at 8-8-1.
- St. Louis has historically been the "model" franchise, while the Cubs spent a century as "lovable losers."
That dynamic shifted in 2016, obviously. Now, the Cubs play like a big-market juggernaut, and the Cardinals are trying to reclaim that "Cardinal Way" magic that seems to have hit a bit of a speed bump lately.
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Why Geography Dictates the Hate
It’s about 300 miles between Wrigley Field and Busch Stadium. That’s a five-hour drive down I-55 or a quick hop on the Amtrak. Because the territory is so shared, you get these "pockets" of fans in places like Peoria or Springfield where the split is exactly 50/50.
You’ve got neighbors who share a lawnmower but won't share a beer during a weekend series. That proximity creates a "takeover" culture. When the Cubs go to St. Louis, the "Let’s Go Cubs" chants are often loud enough to be heard on the broadcast. When the Cards come to Chicago, the red jerseys in the bleachers are impossible to miss.
Key Players to Watch in 2026
Heading into this year, the rosters have some fascinating wrinkles. Michael Busch is clearly the guy the Cardinals need to figure out after his 2025 explosion. On the St. Louis side, Brendan Donovan has been a thorn in Chicago’s side, consistently putting up professional at-bats even when the rest of the lineup goes cold.
Then you have the pitching.
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- Jameson Taillon has stayed steady for the Cubs, bringing that veteran "calm down" energy to high-stakes rivalry games.
- Michael McGreevy is the younger arm for St. Louis that people are keeping an eye on; he’s got that 4.35 ERA that looks "sorta" average on paper, but he’s shown flashes of dominance.
- Keep an eye on the injury report—St. Louis is already dealing with Willson Contreras being on the IL, which is a bummer because he’s the ultimate bridge between these two worlds.
Watching Willson play for the Cardinals after being a Cubs hero is still a "weird" sight for many in Chicago. It adds a layer of personal drama that most games just don't have.
How to Actually "Watch" This Rivalry
If you're planning on catching a Cubs vs Cardinals game this year, don't just look at the box score. Watch the dugouts. Watch how many times the pitchers "accidentally" let one fly a bit too far inside.
The first meeting of 2026 is scheduled for May 29 at Busch Stadium. It’s going to be loud. It’s going to be humid. And if history is any indication, someone who isn't even a star—some bench player or utility man—will probably hit a walk-off double and become a local legend for at least a week.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Check the Wind at Wrigley: Before betting or picking your fantasy lineup for a North Side game, check the flags. If the wind is blowing out, that 2025 home run record might actually be in danger.
- Don't Sleep on the Middle-Innings: These teams love to trade blows in the 5th and 6th. The "Sandberg Game" logic of late-inning heroics is still very much alive in the DNA of these clubs.
- Travel Mid-Week: If you're heading to the other city for a game, Tuesday and Wednesday games are significantly cheaper than the weekend "destination" series, and the intensity is exactly the same.
The reality is that Cubs vs Cardinals doesn't need a playoff spot on the line to be interesting. It’s a permanent fixture of Midwest life. One team is always trying to prove they aren't the "little brother," and the other is trying to prove they haven't lost their crown.
To stay ahead of the curve this season, track the ERA of the Cardinals' bullpen in high-leverage situations against Chicago hitters, as that was the literal breaking point for them in several 2025 matchups. Also, keep an eye on Pete Crow-Armstrong’s defensive metrics at Wrigley; his ability to take away extra-base hits is basically a one-man momentum killer for St. Louis rallies.