In a highly anticipated NL Central matchup, the St. Louis Cardinals will take on the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, June 16th at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. As both teams battle for divisional supremacy, recent form and player performances will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this game.

The Cardinals, currently second in the NL Central, enter this contest with a record of 34-35, having won three of their last four games. Despite dropping game two of the series, St. Louis secured a 3-0 victory in game one. Prior to facing the Cubs, the Cardinals achieved a series win against the Pirates, split a four-game series with the Rockies, and lost to the Astros in two out of three games.

St. Louis boasts a pitching staff with a 3.95 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and holds opponents to a .245 batting average. Their offense has scored 267 runs with a .235 batting average and a .304 on-base percentage. Nolan Gorman has been a standout player for the Cardinals, batting .207 with 15 home runs and 33 RBIs this season. Additionally, St. Louis has displayed solid defense, allowing three runs or fewer in five out of their last six games.

On the other hand, the Cubs have struggled recently, losing three out of their last five games. After being held scoreless in game one, they were able to bounce back and secure a 5-1 victory in game two of the series. Prior to this matchup, the Cubs faced a series loss against the Rays, lost three out of four games to the Reds, and triumphed in both games against the White Sox.

Pitching-wise, Chicago holds a 3.87 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and limits opponents to a .239 batting average. With regard to offense, the Cubs have scored 297 runs, displaying a .227 batting average and a .309 on-base percentage. Christopher Morel has been a standout performer for the Cubs, boasting a .198 batting average along with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs this season. However, the team has struggled to consistently score runs, managing three or fewer runs in five out of their last eight games.

In terms of starting pitchers, St. Louis is set to rely on Miles Mikolas, who holds a 4-6 record with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 78.0 innings pitched this season. Mikolas has demonstrated solid performances recently, allowing two earned runs or fewer in three out of his last five starts. Chicago will counter with Jameson Taillon, who holds a 3-2 record with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP over 55.1 innings pitched. Taillon has had mixed outings lately, allowing three or more earned runs in four out of his last five starts, but did impress in his last outing with six shutout innings against the Rays.

In terms of betting trends, the Cubs have struggled against NL opponents following a win, losing their last 10 games. The Cardinals, as underdogs in NL Central matchups, have seen their last eight games go under the total runs line. Furthermore, the underdogs have covered the run line in 10 out of the last 11 games between the Cardinals and Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Considering the Cubs' recent struggles and inconsistent offense, along with the Cardinals' solid performances and Mikolas' recent form, many analysts predict a victory for St. Louis in this matchup. Though the Cubs enjoy a better home record, the Cardinals will enter the game with confidence and determination to secure a crucial win in the tightly contested NL Central division.

Final Prediction: St. Louis Cardinals to emerge victorious over the Chicago Cubs.