Cardinals crush Cubs 8-2 on June 24, 2025, with a 4-homer barrage. Willson Contreras and Matthew Liberatore starred in the big NL Central rivalry win.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The Busch Stadium lights shone a little brighter Tuesday night as the St. Louis Cardinals put on an absolute power clinic, launching a season-high four home runs to dismantle the rival Chicago Cubs, 8-2. In a game that felt like a statement, the Birds on the Bat showed they're not just competing; they're coming for the NL Central crown.
Willson Contreras is now hitting a blistering .349 against the Cubs since leaving Chicago, and he added three more hits to that tally tonight.
The Cardinals' offense was relentless, turning a tight game into a laugher in the fifth inning. The fireworks started with Alec Burleson and Brendan Donovan hitting back-to-back two-run homers, with Donovan's blast breaking a 17-game homerless streak. Not to be outdone, Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Gorman added solo shots of their own, showcasing the deep, powerful lineup this team can field. Willson Contreras, a constant thorn in the side of his former team, was a hitting machine, collecting three hits to raise his career average against the Cubs to an eye-popping .349 since he put on the Cardinals uniform.
While the bats were booming, Matthew Liberatore was quietly dealing. The left-hander delivered his second straight quality start, carving up the Cubs' lineup for seven dominant innings. He needed only 85 pitches to get through his outing, allowing just two runs while striking out five and walking only one. It's a massive step forward for Libby, who has lowered his ERA to 3.96. If you take away a rough three-start patch, his ERA would be a sparkling 2.74 over 72.1 innings, proving he has the stuff to be a reliable anchor in this rotation.
The victory wasn't the only good news. The Cardinals announced that right-hander Michael McGreevy will be recalled from Memphis to start the next game, another exciting piece of the team's youth movement. McGreevy has been solid in Triple-A with a 2.70 ERA and will look to make an immediate impact. This move is part of a larger trend, with a wave of talent like JJ Wetherholt, Thomas Saggese, and a resurgent Tekoah Roby waiting in the wings. The future is bright in St. Louis, and it's starting to merge with a very exciting present.
With six wins in their last seven games and the NL Central race heating up, the Cardinals have found their groove. All eyes will be on rookie Michael McGreevy tomorrow as he takes the mound with a chance to clinch a huge series win against the Cubs. If this week is any indication, the rest of the league better take notice: the Cardinals are here, they're powerful, and they're not backing down.
