It was that kind of day in St. Louis. The Cubs jumped right on top with three runs in the top of the first, then gave three runs right back in the bottom of the inning. They got a run in the second, but allowed single runs in the fourth and fifth, then chased the remainder of the game, coming up short. The Cub bullpen did throw 2.2 innings of one run ball to end the game, but Cub starter Shōta Imanaga allowed five runs in just 5.1 innings. That and the one run allowed by Phil Maton out of the pen were too much for the Cub offense on this night. They did manage 11 hits, but only drew one walk and one hit by pitch. All together, it just wasn’t enough. For what has been all too frequent an occurrence recently, the Cubs came up short.
Five runs isn’t too bad of an outcome for the offense, but the six runs allowed by Cub pitching are just too much. Shōta Imanaga was all too vulnerable in 2025 and after a nice resurgence in April, he’s been very beatable in May. The calendar is going to turn to June, but stop me if you’ve heard this before, I’m not sure the warmer weather is going to do him any favors. Compounding matters for him were a walk and a hit by pitch in the first inning. He only allowed five hits, which isn’t awful, but one was a three-run homer.
Each team had a three-run homer allowed in the first inning. Imanaga’s gave away all of the momentum of the first inning and for that matter the last two days. When Cade Horton was hurt, Justin Steele was reinjured and Matthew Boyd was sidelined, you had to wonder how the Cubs would get enough outs. It didn’t surface right away, but this team is way too bad at run prevention. The cherry on top was the run allowed by Phil Maton in the eighth. To be fair, the bullpen can’t be expected to have to always be perfect. For Maton, though, it’s been anything but. He had a disastrous April, but even looking at his numbers solely in May, he’s allowed seven runs, all earned, in just 13 innings of work.
We’ve started to talk a little about the lack of high leverage situations for Cub relievers. I’m generally talking about being up a run or two late. But I guess this is a different kind of leverage spot, a one-run deficit late. The kind of game where you have to shut the door and hope the offense comes through. Of course, ex-Cub Nelson Velázquez was right in the middle of most of the scoring. He started the eighth inning rally with a one-out single and ultimately scored the decisive run. Maton had two strikes and two outs before Masyn Winn extended the inning with a single. José Fermín then followed with a single on an 0-2 pitch. Twice Cardinal hitters wriggled off of Maton’s hook when he couldn’t put them away with two strikes and favorable counts.
Velázquez had a nice game, with two hits, one a homer and three runs driven in. This was, of course, his first game as a Cardinal. After an unremarkable stint with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds (.232/.344/.420), the Cardinals called him up and dropped him right into the four spot in their order. You would have to be happy for Nelson literally any other day.
Just another frustrating day as a Cub fan. All too many of them these last few weeks.
Three Positives:
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Ian Happ had a three-run homer in the first and added a double. He homers for the third straight game for the second time this year. He owns NL Central pitching.
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Michael Busch had three hits in five chances, driving in two and scoring one.
Game 58, May 29: Cardinals 6, Cubs 5 (31-27)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
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Superhero: Ian Happ (.247). 2-5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, R
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Hero: Seiya Suzuki (.092). 3-4
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Sidekick: Ethan Roberts (.066). 1.2 IP, 6 BF, H (0.60 ERA on the season)
THREE GOATS:
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Billy Goat: Shōta Imanaga (-.296). 5.1 IP, 23 BF, 5 H, BB, 5 ER, 2 K, 2 HBP (L 4-6)
WPA Play of the Game: Ian Happ’s three-run homer with two outs in the first. (.250)
Pirates Play of the Game: Nelson Velazquez’ three-run homer with one out in the first. (.232)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Poll: Happ, Suzuki, Roberts, Busch, other
Game 57 Winner: Ian Happ with 134 of 179 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
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Jameson Taillon/Phil Maton -9
Current Win Pace: 86.59 wins
Up Next: Game two of the three-game series. Ben Brown (1-2, 2.01, 44.2 IP) makes his fifth start of the year. He’s 0-1 with a 1.89 ERA since becoming a starter. That’s just 19 innings of work as he gets fully stretched out. But he’s been pretty terrific in every role they’ve used him in this year.
Kyle Leahy (5-3, 4.44, 50.2 IP) makes his 11th start of the season. The 17th round pick of the Cardinals back in 2018 (513th overall) has made just 11 starts in his young career. Last time out, the Reds scored five runs in five innings against him.
This is a matchup the Cubs should win. You’d like to have a split in hand before sending Jordan Wicks to the mound for the finale. Wicks was knocked around pretty good in his first 2026 MLB game.
Find a way. Win another game.
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