On Friday afternoon, the New York Yankees will travel to the Windy City for their first series of the season against the Chicago Cubs. Two of baseball's most historic teams, each side look to start the season on a high note.
Yankees vs Cubs team records and recent form
After a midweek series loss to the Texas Rangers, the Yankees, now 80-60, have now dropped to half a game behind the AL East-leading O's. With a 4-6 record in its last 10, New York will bring an MLB-best 43-29 road record to this away set.
For the Cubs, the postseason remains on the table. With a 7-3 record over its last 10 games, Chicago is 72-68, nine games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, but just four games out of the third and final NL Wild Card berth.
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Yankees vs Cubs players to watch
Starting Pitchers
NYY: Luis Gil (12-6, 3.39 ERA) vs CHC: Jordan Wicks (2-2, 3.82 ERA)
Gil has a 1.19 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9 and 144 K in 124.2 IP.
Last Start: Loss, 3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 3 K vs CLE
Career vs CHC: N/A
"The Yankees have activated Luis Gil (back) from the 15-day IL" - B/R Walk-off
Wicks has a 1.36 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 32 K in 33 IP.
Last Start: Win, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 0 vs WSH
Career vs NYY: 0-1 3.27 ERA (11 IP, 4 ER) 2 HR in 6 Games
Must-Watch hitters
Yankees
Despite being on the brink of emulating his 62-home run performance from 2022, Yankees captain Aaron Judge has been quiet of late. Now on a season-worst nine-game home run drought, Judge has hit just .120 over the past week. However, a .346 career hitter against the Cubs, watch out for Judge to get back to his old self.
Although he has hit just .250 this week, Giancarlo Stanton leads his club offensively with two home runs and five RBIs during that span of time.
No stranger to the Cubs from his years playing in the NL, Jazz Chisholm brings a .939 slugging percentage as well as six steals over the past two weeks to Friday's showdown.
Cubs
Left fielder Ian Happ's 21 hits over the past two weeks rank fourth in MLB over that span of time. Moreover, Happ boasts 12 RBIs over his past 13 games for the Cubs.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson is having himself a good week. The former Atlanta Braves star has an OPS of 1.289 over the past six games, enough to rank fifth in MLB during that time.
Many Cubs fans are excited about the production shown by Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 22-year-old former first rounder has eight home runs and 40 RBIs in 113 games this year. Over the past month, Crow-Armstrong has hit .329 with five home runs and 17 RBIs.
"Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong go back-to-back at Wrigley" - MLB
Yankees vs Cubs baseball betting odds and insights
Yankees vs Cubs expert picks and game prediction
The Cubs have been a high-performing baseball team of late. Over the past fortnight, manager David Ross' club has scored 124 runs, the most in MLB over that span of time. Additionally, the Cubs boast the best OPS, slugging percentage, and RBIs over that span of time.
The Yankees have suffered from big bats like Aaron Judge going quiet. The club has dropped their last two series, being significantly outscored by teams that are, on paper, far worse than they are.
Run Line: +1.5 -140
Total Runs: O 7 -120
Prediction: Cubs W, 6-4
