The Cubs will not face old friend Cody Bellinger in this series, as the Yankees outfielder hit the injured list this week with a hamstring strain.
Also, as you likely know, the Yankees are spending an entire week in Chicago, having just split with the White Sox in a four-game series on the South Side. You know, not once since interleague play began have the Cubs ever done this in one of the two-team markets (New York, Los Angeles, and before 2025, the Bay Area). Don’t know why.
For more on the Yankees,
here’s Dani Mohr, manager of our SB Nation Yankees site Pinstripe Alley.
There are several crucial takeaways to note after the Yankees wrapped up the series against the White Sox. With another loss in 11 innings on Thursday, the Pinstripes officially have the worst MLB record in extras (1-8).
With the trade deadline looming, there are a lot of discussions on what the Yankees’ current bullpen and offense bring to the table.
Despite Cam Schlittler ending his scoreless-inning streak with his exit in the seventh inning on Wednesday night, the bullpen went out and put up a decent fight. Tim Hill was one of the crucial standouts, recording a clutch strikeout against Munetaka Murakami to force the 11th inning. The Yankees ultimately lacked on defense but attempted to make up for it in a late offensive surge. However, it was all for naught as Edgar Quero recorded the walk-off single in the 12th.
Ryan Weathers picked up the slack on Thursday and threw for seven scoreless innings, which later forced the Yankees into extras once again. After Cruz ended the game with a bases-loaded walk-off walk in the 11th, the bullpen is likely all but exhausted. There are reportedly many potential trade targets circulating the rumor mill that could provide a much-needed boost.
Looking ahead to face the Cubs, it is essential that Will Warren keeps Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Ian Happ from gaining an early edge. Fried will also need to bounce back after his last outing, in which he allowed five hits and three runs in three innings. Wrapping up the series on Sunday, Cole is tasked with building upon his momentum in the Windy City.
The absence of Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton from this Yankees offense is also deeply felt and appears difficult to overcome. With some inconsistency throughout the lineup during the last series, the focus will need to shift towards establishing dominance early and allowing the bullpen to step into a low-pressure situation.
Fun facts
Since 1876, first year of the National League, the Cubs have played regular-season games against 53 teams.
Their winning percentage against the Yankees is the worst of all: .321 (9-19).
The Cubs also are 0-8 vs. the Yankees in the World Series (1932 and 1938).
The Cubs were .388 (38-60-5) vs. the National League’s Baltimore Orioles in 1892-99. They are .400 (16-24) vs. the Tigers.
…..
The Cubs have won only one previous series vs. the Yankees at Wrigley Field: the first of its kind, in 2003, when they lost, 5-3, then won, 5-2 and 8-7.
They lost two of three in 2011, split a pair in 2014 and dropped all three in 2017.
In their most recent meeting at Wrigley, in 2024, the Cubs were shut out, 3-0 and 2-0, before salvaging the final game, 2-1, making their record 5-9 when hosting the Yankees.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
Friday: Shōta Imanaga, LHP (7-8, 3.72 ERA, 1.099 WHIP, 4.40 FIP) vs. Will Warren, RHP (7-5, 4.41 ERA, 1.412 WHIP, 4.17 FIP)
Saturday: David Peterson, LHP (3-1, 5.06 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 5.14 FIP in five starts with Cubs; 6-7, 5.80 ERA, 1.521 WHIP, 4.22 FIP in 21 games overall) vs. Max Fried, LHP (4-3, 3.23 ERA, 1.019 WHIP, 2.58 FIP)
Sunday: Colin Rea, RHP (8-7, 4.67 ERA, 1.397 WHIP, 4.87 FIP) vs. Gerrit Cole, RHP (4-5, 3.57 ERA, 1.088 WHIP, 3.73 FIP)
Times & TV channels
Friday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Yankees market territories)
Saturday: 6:15 p.m. CT, Fox-TV (regional — coverage map, note that this is basically going to the entire USA except the areas around the teams in the backup game, the Diamondbacks and Guardians). A reminder that if you subscribe to MLB.TV or MLB Extra Innings, you can watch this game via those services even if it’s not on the Fox affiliate in your market. Announcers: Adam Amin, A.J. Pierzynski, Adam Wainwright and Ken Rosenthal.
Sunday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network. Of interest to Cubs fans in the UK, this game is being carried live on BBC at 7 p.m. BST. Details here.
Prediction
The Cubs moved Imanaga into this series presumably because the Yankees are more susceptible to left-handed pitching. Hope that’s the right choice.
In any case the Cubs are hot, and so were the Yankees until the last two days, losses in extras to the White Sox. The Cubs actually are one game better than the Yankees as this series begins (62-47 to 61-48). This should be a good matchup of playoff-bound teams, and I’m going to say the Cubs will take two of three.
Up next
The Cubs host the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series at Wrigley Field beginning Monday evening.
