Chi. Cubs vs Ny Yankees Picks and Predictions September 7th 2024

At 2:20 PM ET, the Yankees and Cubs square off in an interleague matchup. This one is being played at Wrigley Field in Chicago, and the Yankees are the betting favorite on the money line (-143). The Cubs have a money line odds of +122 and their record is 72-69. Javier Assad is starting for the Cubs, while the Yankees are going with Clarke Schmidt.

New York is currently 2nd in the AL East, while the Cubs are 2nd in the NL Central. The over/under line for Saturday’s game is at 7 runs, and it will be televised on YES.

Right-hander Clarke Schmidt gets the start for the Yankees today as he faces the Cubs on the road. Schmidt has made 11 starts this year and has a record of 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA. Looking at his overall numbers, opponents are batting .216 this year. Schmidt has turned in two quality starts and is averaging 9.94 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, he took the loss, giving up two earned runs in five innings of work. Before that, he had won three straight starts.

Not only do the Yankees lead the league in home runs this season, but they also have the league’s top offense, averaging 5.1 runs per game. They are also the top on-base percentage team in the league and have the best team OPS in the league. The Yankees are averaging 5.3 runs per game on the road and 4.9 runs per game at home.

Aaron Judge has been the team’s top hitter this season, batting .323 with 51 home runs and 125 RBIs. Juan Soto is also having a great season, hitting .295 with 38 homers. DJ LeMahieu comes into the game on a five-game hitting streak, and Gleyber Torres has a seven-game streak going. Over his last eight games, Jazz Chisholm Jr. is batting .400.

Javier Assad gets the start for the Cubs today and comes in with a record of 7-4 and an ERA of 3.21. So far this year, he has made 25 starts and six of them have been quality starts. In his last outing, Assad picked up the win, going six innings and giving up three earned runs on four hits. Before that, he had given up at least three earned runs in three straight outings. Assad has been much better at home, coming in with a record of 3-1 and an ERA of 2.43 compared to 4-3 with a 4.31 ERA on the road.

So far this season, the Cubs are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which is 13th in the MLB. They have been a better offensive team on the road, averaging 5 runs per game. As a team, the Cubs are batting .240, which is 14th in the league, and they are also 18th in home runs. Chicago comes into the game with a team on-base percentage of .316.

Over his last nine games, Dansby Swanson has gone 13/34 with three homers and 11 RBIs. Heading into the game, Cody Bellinger is on a five-game hitting streak. The Cubs’ top power threat is Ian Happ, who has 23 homers this season and is also the team’s leader in RBIs (81).

The New York Yankees are eyeing a second straight win against the Chicago Cubs as they continue their three-game series at Wrigley Field on Saturday. After breaking a two-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory on Friday, the Yankees (81-60) are hoping to carry that momentum forward as they fight to stay competitive in the playoff race.

Yankees Pitching Shines in Series Opener

In Friday’s game, the Yankees’ pitching was nothing short of dominant. Luis Gil and three relievers teamed up to deliver a one-hitter, shutting out the Cubs for the 14th time this season. The Cubs (72-69) now find themselves among the teams with the second-most shutouts in the league. The only hit came from Cody Bellinger, who doubled in the fourth inning.

Offensively, the Yankees relied on contributions from Austin Wells, who drove in two runs, and Aaron Judge, who added an RBI double to secure the win. The night also marked the return of Anthony Rizzo to Wrigley Field, where the Cubs celebrated their former first baseman with a tribute video. Rizzo, a key figure in the Cubs’ 2016 World Series run, went 1-for-3 with a walk in his return.

Cubs Offense in a Slump

The Cubs’ recent offensive struggles continued in Friday’s loss. Manager Craig Counsell acknowledged the team’s difficulty in generating runs, saying, “Gil threw the ball well, but we’ve got to do a better job… that’s a tough formula to score.” The Cubs have now dropped three of their last four games, raising concerns as they fight for a wild-card spot in the National League.

Yankees’ Closer-by-Committee Strategy

With closer Clay Holmes struggling and having blown his 11th save earlier this week, the Yankees have adopted a closer-by-committee approach. On Friday, Luke Weaver earned his first career save in his 199th major league appearance. Reflecting on the moment, Weaver said, “I couldn’t see straight… I was on pure adrenaline. But it was a great time.” The Yankees will likely continue this strategy as they search for stability in their bullpen.

Saturday’s Pitching Matchup

Saturday’s game will feature a pair of right-handers on the mound. For the Cubs, Javier Assad (7-4, 3.21 ERA) will get the start. Assad has been a reliable workhorse for Chicago this season, setting career highs in starts (25) and innings pitched (126). In his last start, he allowed three runs over six innings in a 5-3 win against the Washington Nationals. This will be his second career appearance against the Yankees, having pitched three scoreless innings in relief during a previous meeting.

On the other side, Clarke Schmidt (5-3, 2.52 ERA) returns to the mound for the Yankees after being sidelined since May 26 with a right lat strain. Schmidt has looked sharp in his rehab outings, most recently allowing two runs over 4 2/3 innings for Double-A Somerset on Monday. He had allowed three runs or fewer in each of his 11 starts before the injury, and this will be his first career start against the Cubs.

Key Matchups to Watch

Yankees’ Pitching vs. Cubs’ Slumping Offense:
The Cubs’ offense has been struggling, and the Yankees will look to capitalize on that by delivering another dominant pitching performance. Can they keep Chicago’s bats quiet for a second straight game?

Javier Assad vs. Yankees’ Lineup:
Assad has been a consistent arm for the Cubs, but he’ll face a Yankees lineup hungry to secure the series. Will Assad be able to keep New York’s bats in check, or will the Yankees break through?

Clarke Schmidt’s Return:
After missing significant time, Schmidt is back on the mound. How he manages the Cubs’ lineup after a long layoff will be crucial. Will Schmidt pick up where he left off before his injury, or will there be some rust?

What’s at Stake?

For the Yankees, a win would give them the series and keep them on track in the playoff race as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. They are still chasing postseason dreams, and every win is crucial.

For the Cubs, getting back in the win column is vital as they fight for a wild-card spot in the National League. A loss on Saturday could make their playoff push even more difficult, and with the season winding down, every game counts.

With both teams battling for October baseball, Saturday’s game carries major implications for both sides. It promises to be a high-stakes battle at Wrigley Field.

For a money-line pick, our lean would be to take the Cubs to come out on top at home. We also have this as the 8th highest-scoring game of the day and would be leaning towards the over. The Yankees have the 4th best home run projection, and Clarke Schmidt is our 2nd highest-ranked starting pitcher in terms of strikeouts. On the other side, Javier Assad is 12th among today’s starters in projected strikeouts.