Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA

New York Yankees vs Chicago Cubs: Can the Cubs keep on rolling?

The New York Yankees are visiting the Chicago Cubs today in the series opener at Wrigley Field.

The Yankees are looking to top the division

The New York Yankees are second in the AL East with a 80-60 record, including 43-29 on the road. They have lost 4 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 10-6 loss to the texas Rangers. The Yankees have a 3.90 ERA, a .235 batting average, a .313 on-base percentage, and 1.27 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Aaron Judge is the best player on the team with 159 hits, 107 runs and league-high 51 home runs.

The Cubs are coming off a historic night

The Chicago Cubs are second in the NL Central with a 72-68 record, including 37-31 at home. After losing back-to-back games to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cubs won 12-0 in their last one. The Cubs have a 3.79 ERA, a .235 batting average, a .302 on-base percentage, and 1.24 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Nico Hoerner leads the team with 132 hits, Ian Happ is on top with 80 runs, and 23 home runs.

Betting Trends

The Cubs are 7-2 SU in their last 9 games overall, 1-6 SU in their last 7 games against the Yankees and 4-2 SU in their last 6 games against teams from the AL. Chicago has played under the total run line in 12 of their last 18 games against the Yankees and 8 of their last 10 games against teams from the AL East while they have gone over in 11 of their last 14 games overall and 4 of their last 5 home games. The Yankees are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games overall, 12-3 SU in their last 15 games against the Cubs, 2-6 SU in their last 8 games on the road and 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when visiting the Cubs. New York has played over the total run line in their last 6 games overall, in 9 of their last 13 games against teams from the NL and 8 of their last 9 games against teams from the NL Central.

Prediction and Conclusion

The New York Yankees had a difficult week, winning only one game, which cost them the top of the AL East. They are not happy with that and hope to bounce back when they go to Chicago to visit the Cubs for the first time since 2017. The Cubs are coming off a historic night, as they had the first no-hitter at Wrigleys Field since 1972 in the 12-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs will try to build on that one with Jordan Wicks on the mound, who is 2-2 for the season with a 3.82 ERA, 33 IP, and 1.36 WHIP. The Yankees will go with Luis Gil, who is 12-6 for the season with a 3.39 ERA, 134 K, 124.2 IP, and 1.20 WHIP. It’s been a while since the Yankees visited the Cubs, so they will steal the party and win the series opener.