The Chicago Cubs begin a three-game road series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Yankee Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET. The Cubs just beat the Twins 8-1 to avoid a sweep, and the Yankees are coming off a 6-5 extra-inning win over Seattle.
The Cubs are 55-38 and lead the NL Central. The Yankees are 52-41 and sit second in the AL East. The last time these teams met, the Cubs swept the Yankees in Chicago in September 2024, winning all three games by a combined score of 7-1.
Cubs Preview – Crow-Armstrong Powers the Offense
Pete Crow-Armstrong is having a strong season. He is the first Cubs player under age 24 to record five multi-homer games in one year. He also reached the 25-homer, 25-steal mark in just 92 games, something only three other players in MLB history have done faster.
Chris Flexen will make the start for Chicago. He has a 5-0 record and a 0.83 ERA, working mostly from the bullpen. In his last appearance, he allowed one run over 3.2 innings against St. Louis. But in his last game against the Yankees in May, he gave up seven runs over four innings.
The Cubs are averaging 5.41 runs per game and have a team batting average of .246. Their bullpen ERA is one of the best in the league at 2.76. Daniel Palencia, Ryan Pressly, and Drew Pomeranz have all been effective in relief with ERAs under 3.00.
Yankees Preview – Rodon Looks to Bounce Back
The Yankees pulled off a comeback win Thursday, scoring five late runs after being hitless through seven innings. Giancarlo Stanton hit a pinch-hit homer, and Aaron Judge drove in the winning run in extra innings. Cody Bellinger extended his hit streak to 15 games.
Carlos Rodon will take the mound looking for his 10th win. He is 9-6 with a 3.30 ERA but has been shaky lately, giving up seven runs in his last outing and posting a 5.34 ERA over his last six starts. He has given up multiple home runs in five different starts this season.
New York’s bullpen has been solid, with a 3.57 ERA and a WHIP of 1.18. Tim Hill and Luke Weaver have kept hitters in check. However, several relievers are injured, including Fernando Cruz and Yerry De Los Santos. The Yankees are 29-17 at home and have won four straight games.
Betting Prediction
The Yankees are -190 favorites with the Cubs at +155. The total is set at 9.0 runs. The Cubs have been cashing in on team total overs and have covered the F5 moneyline in 47 of 91 games. They have also hit the full game moneyline in 30 of their last 49 games.
The Yankees have covered the run line in seven of their last eight home games and have hit the team total over in nine straight games. However, their starters are dealing with injuries, and Rodon has been inconsistent. The Cubs’ offense is hot, and their bullpen is more reliable right now.
Pick: Cubs +155
