MLB Baseball
2026-07-31 - New York Yankees at Chicago Cubs
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Friday 31st July 2026 - Scheduled 2:20pm EST
7:20pm (British Time)
Preview
Two of the biggest teams in the Major League will be facing one another in this inter-League series at Wrigley Field this weekend and both are looking to try and close the gap in Divisional races in the American League East and National League Central respectively.
However, consecutive losses have just stalled the New York Yankees (61-48) who are now 3.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays, while the Chicago Cubs (62-47) took a series win over the St Louis Cardinals, but remain 5.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers.
If the season was to finish today, that would mean both the Yankees and Cubs would be playing post-season Baseball as the top Wild Card team.
Both teams will be looking to put some momentum together in the last series to be played ahead of the trade deadline and the New York Yankees will give the ball to Will Warren. The third year pitcher has a 7-5 record and 4.41 ERA from twenty-one appearances for the Yankees this season and twenty of those have been in starts.
Will Warren will be aware that the starting rotation is healthier now and the New York Yankees have been linked with bringing in another arm that may force him into the bullpen. He is trying to prove himself, but Warren has struggled for consistency and that has seen him put together a 7.61 ERA from his last six appearances.
The starts have been troubling and three of the last five starts have ended with Will Warren allowing at least five runs so it is no surprise he has a 0-3 record in the last six appearances. Last time out he was knocked around for six runs by the Philadelphia Phillies in 3 Innings thrown and Will Warren allowed two runs in his only previous start against the Chicago Cubs in 2025, which resulted in a decision loss.
On the mound for the Cubs that day was Shota Imanaga and he will be doing the same on Friday in the opener of this three game set.
He picked up the win in that game in 2025 and Shota Imanaga comes into this outing with a 7-8 record and 3.72 ERA in twenty-one starts. The numbers are very similar to those produced in 2025, but the Cubs are going to be encouraged by the last eight starts in which Shota Imanaga has only allowed more than two runs once.
Shota Imanaga has a 2-2 record from his last five starts, but carries a 1.55 ERA in that time and his own performances have been worthy of stronger results. Since being knocked around by the Athletics in early June, Imanaga has not allowed more than two runs in any of the last four starts at Wrigley Field.
Prediction
You always have to respect the New York Yankees, but the Chicago Cubs look to have a real edge on the mound and that can play out in the opener of this inter-League series.
The Pick :
Chicago Cubs 6-2 New York Yankees
