New York Yankees vs Chicago Cubs Betting Picks & Predictions
The New York Yankees are currently second in the fiercely competitive AL East with an 93-68 record, trailing the Baltimore Orioles by just half a game. Despite recent
Game outlook
The New York Yankees are currently second in the fiercely competitive AL East with an 93-68 record, trailing the Baltimore Orioles by just half a game. Despite recent struggles on a road trip, the team is led by Aaron Judge who is on pace to chase his own home run record. On the other hand, the Chicago Cubs sit at 72-68 in the NL Central, 9 games back from the leading Milwaukee Brewers. Their path to the postseason relies on the Wild Card race, where they are trailing the New York Mets by 4 games for the final spot. The Cubs show a boom-or-bust approach, with recent standout performances including a combined no-hitter. With seven wins in their last nine games, the Cubs are making a push for the postseason. Luis Gil will be starting pitcher for the Yankees, while Jordan Wicks will be starting for the Cubs, with New York opening as the betting favorite.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Yankees -126 | Cubs +115
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+132) | Cubs +1.5 (-152)
Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that New York will win straight-up is 56%.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are reevaluating their approach to the closer role after Clay Holmes recorded his league-leading 11th blown save of the season. Manager Aaron Boone hinted at a more "creative" strategy, involving different relievers like Jake Cousins, Luke Weaver, and Tommy Kahnle in save opportunities based on matchups. Despite this shift, Boone remains optimistic that Holmes can regain his closer role but stresses the importance of creativity in the short term, with 22 games left in the regular season. The possibility of using starter Luis Gil in a closer role is being considered, but the Yankees are wary of disrupting his routine. Holmes has accepted the situation and is focused on contributing to win games. Pitching coach Matt Blake noted that while some blown saves were due to bad luck, Holmes' recent outing showed a loss of command. The team has limited experience among other closer candidates, which is why they had continued to rely on Holmes. New York is ranked 2nd in offense, 11th in defense, and currently has a 93-68 record this season.