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At 2:20 PM ET, the Yankees and Cubs face off in an interleague matchup. This one is being played at Wrigley Field in Chicago, and the Yankees are the heavy favorite on the money line (-161). The Cubs’ money line odds are sitting at +137, and the over/under line is at 9 runs.
New York will be looking to keep their two-game winning streak alive, as they are 82-60 and 1st in the AL East. The Cubs, meanwhile, are 3rd in the NL Central with a record of 72-70. Gerrit Cole will start for the Yankees, while the Cubs are going with Jameson Taillon.
New York vs. Chicago Key Information
- Teams: Yankees at Cubs
- Where: Wrigley Field Chicago
- Date: Sunday, September 8th
- Betting Odds NYY -161 | CHC +137 O/U 9
The Yankees Can Win If…
Gerrit Cole gets the start for the Yankees today as he faces off against the Cubs on the road. So far this season, he has made 13 starts and has a record of 6-3. Cole’s ERA is 3.65, and he is coming off a start in which he gave up just one earned run in six innings of work. In that outing, he picked up the win. Looking back over his last four starts, Cole has gone 3-1. His WHIP for the season is 1.29, and opponents are batting .237 off the right-hander this year. Cole has made five quality starts and is averaging 10.17 strikeouts per nine innings.
Not only are the Yankees the league’s top home run hitting team, but they are also 2nd in the league in scoring at 5.1 runs per game. This has been even better on the road, where they are averaging 5.3 runs per contest. New York’s team OPS of .770 is the best in the league, and they also lead the MLB in team slugging percentage. The Yankees are also the most patient team in the league at the plate, as they have the fewest strikeouts in the league and are 1st in walks.
Aaron Judge has been the league’s top run producer this season, as his 125 RBIs are the best in the league. He has also gone deep 51 times, which is also the best in the MLB. Judge is batting .321 for the season and has a team-high OBP of .454. Juan Soto is also having a big season for the Yankees, as he is batting .294 with 38 home runs.
- The Yankees are 4-6 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Yankees are 3-2 vs. the run line.
- New York has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
- The Yankees have an average of 4.6 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten road games, the Yankees are 4-6
- Looking back across the Yankees last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
- New York has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Yankees have averaged 3.4 runs per game on offense
The Cubs Can Win If…
Jameson Taillon will be looking to build off his last outing, where he didn’t allow a run. Against the Pirates on September 2nd, he went seven innings, giving up just three hits and one walk. He finished with a no-decision in that outing. Looking back further, Taillon has had some trouble with the long ball, giving up a total of eight homers in his last four starts. His ERA for the season is 3.66, along with a record of 9-8. Taillon has made 24 starts, and opponents are batting .243 this year. So far, he has made 12 quality starts.
For the season, the Cubs are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which is 13th in the league. They have been a better offensive team on the road this season, averaging 5 runs per contest. As a team, the Cubs are batting .239, which is 15th in the league, and have the 17th most home runs in the MLB.
Over his last seven games, Dansby Swanson has been on fire for the Cubs, going 11/27 with two homers and six RBIs. Looking at the Cubs’ season stats, Ian Happ leads the team with 23 homers and 81 RBIs, but is batting just .245. Seiya Suzuki is hitting .273 and is 2nd on the team with 19 homers.
- The Cubs are 6-4 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Cubs are 1-4 vs. the run line.
- Chicago has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
- The Cubs have an average of 3.0 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten home games, the Cubs are 8-2
- Looking back across the Cubs last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
- Chicago has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Cubs have averaged 9.0 runs per game on offense
The New York Yankees are on a roll and looking to keep that momentum going as they head into the final game of their series against the Chicago Cubs. With back-to-back shutouts under their belt, the Yankees (82-60) have already secured their 32nd straight winning season. Now, with ace Gerrit Cole taking the mound on Sunday, they’ll aim to complete the sweep at Wrigley Field.
Yankees’ Pitching on Fire
The Yankees’ pitching staff has been absolutely lights-out lately. Over their last 26 starts, they’ve posted a stellar 3.31 ERA, keeping the opposition at bay and giving their offense plenty of room to breathe. The rotation has been bolstered by the return of Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil from injury, giving manager Aaron Boone even more depth to work with. Nestor Cortes has also been a key player, transitioning to the bullpen and proving that he can deliver no matter where he’s placed.
“I’m always up for a challenge,” Cortes said after Saturday’s game. “Whether I’m starting or in the bullpen, I’m going to give my best.”
Boone has been thrilled with his pitching staff’s recent performance. “These guys are stepping up. We’re getting better and better as a staff, but we’ve got to keep pushing and execute day in and day out.”
Cubs Struggling to Stay in Playoff Contention
The Cubs (72-70) are fighting for their playoff lives, but September hasn’t been kind to them. After a strong August where they went 18-8, Chicago has stumbled to a 2-4 start this month. They now sit six games behind the New York Mets for the final National League wild-card spot.
“We believe in ourselves,” Cubs outfielder Ian Happ said. “We’ve got the pieces to be in the playoffs, but we’ve got to play better, plain and simple.”
The Cubs’ offense has hit a wall in this series, getting shut out in back-to-back games. Saturday marked the 15th time they’ve been shut out this season, and they’ve managed only one run across the first two games. If they want to avoid being swept, they’ll need to figure out a way to break through against a dominant Yankees pitching staff.
Pitching Matchup: Cole vs. Taillon
The series finale brings an intriguing pitching duel, with both teams sending solid right-handers to the mound. Jameson Taillon (9-8, 3.66 ERA) will start for the Cubs, while the Yankees will counter with their ace, Gerrit Cole (6-3, 3.65 ERA).
Taillon has been a bright spot for the Cubs, especially at Wrigley Field. In 12 starts at home this season, he’s posted a fantastic 2.64 ERA, compared to a more pedestrian 4.72 ERA on the road. In his most recent outing, Taillon threw seven scoreless innings, giving up just three hits. Although the Cubs lost that game 5-3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Taillon’s performance gave his team a fighting chance.
“He was in command the whole way,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He mixed his pitches well and kept hitters off balance.”
Taillon has also had success against his former team. In two career starts against the Yankees, he’s posted a 2.70 ERA and has proven he can handle New York’s lineup.
On the other side, Gerrit Cole has been nothing short of dominant. The Yankees’ ace has allowed one run or fewer in four of his last five starts, and he’s coming off a strong outing against the Texas Rangers where he struck out nine batters and allowed just one run over six innings. He did leave that game early due to calf cramps, but he’s fully healthy and ready to go for Sunday.
Cole has a stellar track record against the Cubs, holding an 11-3 record with a 2.61 ERA in 16 career starts. Given his current form and his history against Chicago, the Yankees have every reason to feel confident with him on the mound.
What to Watch For
All eyes will be on Gerrit Cole as the Yankees aim for the sweep, but the Cubs’ offense will need to wake up if they want to salvage the series. The Cubs are fighting to stay alive in the playoff race, and with Jameson Taillon’s strong performances at Wrigley Field, they’ll be looking to turn things around.
- Yankees’ pitching dominance: Can Cole and the Yankees continue their incredible run of pitching performances?
- Cubs’ offensive struggles: Will Chicago’s bats finally come alive, or will they be silenced again?
- Taillon vs. Yankees: How will Taillon fare against his former team, and can he give the Cubs a chance to avoid the sweep?
High-Stakes Finale at Wrigley Field
Sunday’s matchup between the Yankees and Cubs is loaded with drama. With Gerrit Cole on the mound and the Yankees’ pitching staff dominating, New York is in a great position to complete the sweep. Meanwhile, the Cubs are in desperate need of a bounce-back performance, both on the mound and at the plate. As the season winds down, every game matters, and this series finale at Wrigley Field is shaping up to be a crucial one for both teams.
The Lean
For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this Yankees vs. Cubs matchup is projected to be the 8th highest-scoring game of today’s league slate. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Cubs to pick up the win. Chicago’s offense has the 2nd best projected hits total, and Jameson Taillon is 17th among today’s starters in projected strikeouts.
