Full Breakdown
Cubs Outslug Cardinals 7-3 as Bregman and Hoerner Power Victory
7/28/2026, 12:51:06 PM
Recent Form and Stakes
The Chicago Cubs entered Monday’s matchup with a surge, having won eight of their last 12 games. By contrast, the St. Louis Cardinals continued a slump, posting a 3-8 record since the All-Star break and slipping to 6-14 over their last 20 contests. The win kept the Cubs above .500 in the NL Central, while the Cardinals remained mired near the bottom of the league.
Key Performances
Alex Bregman, who signed a five-year, $175 million contract in the offseason, broke an 0-for-12 slump with four hits—including a first-pitch homer to right field (his 11th of the season) and two doubles—driving in two runs. Nico Hoerner added a two-run homer in the ninth inning, extending the lead. Starting pitcher David Peterson (6-7) worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two batters. Reliever Matthew Liberatore (5-8) was charged with three runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings. The Cubs amassed 14 hits and recorded five runs in the first three innings.
Game Flow and Notable Plays
A rain delay of 1 hour 46 minutes postponed the start. Early scoring came when Liberatore walked Pete Crow-Armstrong and promptly picked him off, followed by back-to-back doubles from Seiya Suzuki and Bregman to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. Nico Hoerner’s leadoff single in the second inning set up a two-run single by Miguel Amaya, pushing the lead to 2-0. The Cardinals trimmed the deficit when José Fermín launched a 407-foot homer, but Bregman’s third-inning homer restored a 3-1 advantage. Hoerner’s fifth-inning two-run single made it 5-1, and later his ninth-inning 382-foot double sealed the 7-3 final margin.
Outlook
The Cubs will send right-hander Colin Rea (7-7, 4.85 ERA) to the mound for the series finale at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals have yet to announce their starter for the next game.
