Chi. Cubs vs Ny Yankees Picks and Predictions September 8th 2024

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

Yankees Eyeing Sweep Behind Gerrit Cole’s Arm

The New York Yankees are heading into the series finale against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday afternoon, looking to sweep the three-game set at Wrigley Field. After two consecutive shutouts, the Yankees (82-60) have locked up their 32nd straight winning season with Saturday’s 2-0 victory. With ace Gerrit Cole on the mound, New York will be aiming to keep their pitching dominance rolling and complete the sweep.

Yankees’ Pitching Dominance Continues

The Yankees’ pitching staff has been on fire, and their recent performances have been pivotal to maintaining their lead in the American League East. Over their last 26 starts, the Yankees’ rotation boasts a stellar 3.31 ERA, proving to be the backbone of their success.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has been thrilled with his team’s depth on the mound. With Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil back from injury, the rotation is healthier than ever.

In Saturday’s win, it was Nestor Cortes who stepped up, throwing in relief for the first time this season. Typically a starter, Cortes embraced his new role, saying, “I’m never going to back down from a challenge. If this is my role for now, I’ll accept it and do my best.”

Gerrit Cole Ready for Series Finale

As the Yankees aim to sweep, they’ll rely on none other than Gerrit Cole to continue their run of dominant pitching. Cole (6-3, 3.65 ERA), celebrating his 34th birthday, has been in top form lately, allowing just one run or less in four of his last five starts. In his most recent outing, Cole struck out nine over six innings in an 8-4 win over the Texas Rangers.

Even after leaving that game with a calf cramp, Cole assured fans that he’s ready to go. With a strong track record against the Cubs—an 11-3 record with a 2.61 ERA in 16 career starts—Cole is set to lead the Yankees toward another win.

Cubs Struggling to Get on the Board

On the other side, the Cubs (72-70) are desperately trying to snap out of a scoring slump. Saturday’s shutout marked the 15th time this season Chicago has been held scoreless, and it was their third shutout in just four games.

After a strong August, where the Cubs went 18-8, their September has gotten off to a rough start, slipping to 2-4 and falling further behind in the National League wild-card race. They now sit six games behind the Mets for the final spot.

Jameson Taillon Looking to Halt Yankees’ Momentum

To stop the Yankees’ momentum, the Cubs will turn to right-hander Jameson Taillon (9-8, 3.66 ERA). Taillon has been particularly solid at home, with a 2.64 ERA in 12 starts at Wrigley Field.

Taillon had an outstanding performance last Monday, giving up just three hits over seven scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite his efforts, the Cubs fell apart late and lost 5-3.

With a 2.70 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees, Taillon will need to deliver another strong outing to keep Chicago’s hopes alive in this series finale.

What to Watch For

Sunday’s matchup will be all about Gerrit Cole and the Yankees’ pitching, as they look to keep their winning streak alive and their pitching dominance intact. The Cubs, meanwhile, are struggling to find any offensive rhythm and will need Taillon to slow down the Yankees’ lineup if they hope to avoid a sweep.

As both teams deal with different pressures—New York aiming to secure the AL East lead, and Chicago clinging to fading wild-card hopes—this game promises high stakes and plenty of excitement.

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.