Chi. Cubs vs Ny Yankees Picks and Predictions September 6th 2024

From Wrigley Field in Chicago, we have the Cubs and Yankees facing off in an interleague matchup. The money line odds have the Yankees as the favorites, with their line sitting at -144 compared to the Cubs at +122. Today’s over/under line is at 7 runs.

First pitch for this one is set for 2:20 PM ET, and the forecast calls for light rain and temperatures in the upper 60s. Luis Gil is starting for the Yankees, and the Cubs are going with Jordan Wicks. New York is 80-60, while the Cubs are 72-68.

New York is sending Luis Gil to the mound today, and he comes in with a record of 12-6 and an ERA of 3.39. Gil has made 24 starts this year and has pitched well on the road, going 6-3 with a 4.11 ERA. In his last outing, he finished with a no-decision, giving up three earned runs in three innings of work. Before that, he had won three straight starts. Gil’s ERA at home is 6.18 compared to 4.11 on the road. Opponents are batting .179 off Gil this season.

The Yankees have been the league’s top home run hitting team this season and are also 2nd in the league in scoring at 5.1 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.3 runs per contest. Overall, they are 7th in team batting average, and their team on-base percentage of .335 is 2nd in the league. The Yankees also have the league’s top OPS and are 2nd in slugging.

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have been the team’s top power threats this season, with Judge leading the league with 51 homers and Soto’s 38 homers being 4th in the league. Judge is also the league leader in RBIs, with 124. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has gone 13/30 in his last eight games and is currently on a five-game hitting streak.

Left-hander Jordan Wicks gets the start for the Cubs today as he faces the Yankees at home. He has made seven starts this season and has a record of 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA. Wicks’ WHIP for the season is currently 1.36. In his last outing, he picked up the win, going five innings and giving up just one earned run on four hits. Wicks has made one quality start this year and is averaging 8.73 strikeouts per nine innings. Looking back, he has made just three home starts, with an ERA of 2.29 compared to 4.43 on the road.

For the season, the Cubs are averaging 4.6 runs per game, which is 12th in the league. At home, they are averaging just 4.1 runs per game, but on the road, they have been the 7th best offense in the league, averaging 5 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .241, which is 14th in the league, and are also near the top of the league in walks.

Over the team’s last 10 games, Ian Happ has been hot, going 18/43 with 10 RBIs. However, he has yet to hit a home run in this stretch. Dansby Swanson has also been swinging a hot bat for the Cubs, going 15/39 with four homers over his last 10 games. Happ and Swanson are also on hitting streaks of four and six games, respectively.

Yankees Aim to Reverse Slump as They Open Series Against Cubs at Wrigley

The New York Yankees are hoping to put their recent struggles behind them as they kick off a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday. After losing six of their last eight games and dropping three consecutive series, the Yankees (80-60) are desperate to find some consistency as they fight to stay in the postseason race.

Yankees Struggling for Consistency

It’s been a tough stretch for the Yankees, who have gone 30-38 over their last 68 games, falling behind in the American League playoff race. Their most recent loss, a 10-6 defeat to the Texas Rangers, highlighted their ongoing issues. Juan Soto, who has been one of the team’s few bright spots, had a three-hit game, including his 38th home run, but it wasn’t enough to stop the skid.

Much of the Yankees’ recent struggles can be traced to bullpen issues, with closer Clay Holmes leading the league in blown saves with 11. Boone hinted at potential changes, mentioning that Jake Cousins, Luke Weaver, and Tommy Kahnle might be rotated into save situations going forward.

Cubs Riding Momentum in Wild-Card Race

On the other hand, the Chicago Cubs (72-68) are coming into the series with plenty of momentum. They’ve won 13 of their last 18 games, staying firmly in the wild-card race. Chicago’s pitching has been a big part of their success, and they made history on Wednesday with their 18th no-hitter in franchise history, a 12-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Shota Imanaga and two relievers combined for the no-hitter, even as the Cubs dealt with injuries to their ace Justin Steele and reliever Jorge Lopez.

Despite those injuries, the Cubs have shown resilience. “We can find other guys to step up in big moments,” Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said, signaling that the team won’t back down as they chase a playoff spot.

Pitching Matchup: Assad vs. Gil

Friday’s opener will see a matchup of right-handers on the mound. For the Cubs, Javier Assad (7-4, 3.21 ERA) gets the start. Assad is coming off a strong performance, allowing three runs over six innings in a 5-3 win over the Washington Nationals. This season, he’s been a reliable starter, setting career highs in starts (25) and innings pitched (126). He’s faced the Yankees once before, pitching three scoreless innings in relief in July 2023.

For the Yankees, Luis Gil (12-6, 3.39 ERA) will make his return to the rotation after recovering from a lower back strain. Gil pitched 80 pitches over 3 2/3 innings in a rehab start and will make his first career appearance against the Cubs.

Key Players to Watch

For the Yankees, Juan Soto remains the key to sparking their offense. His 38 home runs this season have been a bright spot in an otherwise up-and-down year for New York. If the Yankees are to turn things around, Soto will need to stay hot at the plate.

On the Cubs’ side, Javier Assad has proven to be a reliable force on the mound, but Marcell Ozuna is another key player to watch. Ozuna has been one of the most consistent hitters in the National League, batting .307 with 37 home runs and 98 RBIs this season.

Outlook

This series carries significant weight for both teams. The Yankees are in desperate need of a spark to stay in the playoff hunt, while the Cubs are riding high and looking to solidify their wild-card chances. With both teams having so much at stake, the matchups on the mound and at the plate could define their playoff futures.

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as we have this as the 9th highest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Cubs to pick up the win. Chicago starter Jordan Wicks has the 2nd best odds to work deep into the game, and Luis Gil has the 14th best strikeout projection among today’s starters.