Chicago Cubs vs
Boston Red SoxPredictions & Preview

Chicago Cubs vs Boston Red Sox Set to Clash in Interleague Series at Fenway Park - Elite Pitchers to Take the Mound as Cubs Open as Betting Favorites

A new interleague series between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox is set to begin on Friday at Fenway Park. The Cubs, with a record of 15-9, are currently second in the NL Central, while the Red Sox, with a record of 14-11, are third in the AL East. Chicago will be coming off a home series against the Astros before facing Boston, while the Red Sox will be finishing a series against the Guardians in Cleveland. Both teams are expected to start strong pitchers, with Shota Imanaga (0.84 ERA) taking the mound for the Cubs and Kutter Crawford (0.66 ERA) pitching for the Red Sox. The first pitch is set for 7:10 EST, with Chicago opening as the betting favorite at -107.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cubs -107 | Red Sox -104
• Spread: Cubs +1.5 (-220) | Red Sox -1.5 (+190)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Chicago will win straight-up is 52%.

Chicago vs Boston Stats

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs recently completed a seven-game home stand at Wrigley Field, splitting a series against the Marlins and winning the first two games against the Astros. In the second game against Houston, Dansby Swanson's three-run home run in the first inning secured a victory for the Cubs. However, they will be without Cody Bellinger due to a right rib fracture. Swanson, the starting shortstop, hit his third home run of the season and typically bats 6th in the lineup. Michael Busch leads the team in home runs with six and bats cleanup, while Nico Hoerner leads the team in hits and bats leadoff. Ian Happ bats third and Shota Imanaga, with impressive statistics, will be starting his fifth game of the season. The Cubs are currently ranked 6th in power rankings, 4th in offense, 18th in defense, with a 15-9 record for the season.

Boston Red Sox Analysis

The Boston Red Sox are currently competing in the tough AL East division, where every team has a winning record. Despite being in third place, three games behind the Yankees, the Red Sox have been holding their position with recent strong performances. Connor Wong stood out in a recent game against Cleveland by hitting two home runs. The team's leader in home runs is Tyler O'Neil, and Rafael Devers recently returned from an injury. Jarren Duran leads the team in hits as the leadoff hitter. Pitcher Kutter Crawford has been performing well with impressive stats. Overall, the Red Sox have a strong offense and defense, with a power ranking of 10. In their recent matchups, Boston went 2-1 against Chicago.

Elite Pitchers Battle It Out as Cubs and Red Sox Face Off - Offensive Performance to Decide Victor

This matchup features two elite pitchers in baseball, making the decision on the victor reliant on the recent offensive performance of both teams. Imanaga boasts an impressive 3-0 record with a 0.84 ERA, while Crawford has pitched 27 innings with a stellar 0.66 ERA. Given the high level of performance from both pitchers, the difference in this game will likely come down to offensive output. Despite Boston's superior home run count, neither pitcher has allowed more than one home run this season. Chicago excels in generating runs, ranking 5th in the league, compared to the Red Sox who sit at 15th. The Cubs also hold a superior batting average and on-base percentage. In what promises to be a closely contested game, the edge goes to the team with a stronger track record of manufacturing runs without relying on home runs. My prediction is for the Cubs to emerge victorious.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]