New York Yankees vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, Preview and Odds - 08/01/2026

Game Time: 7:15 pm ET, Saturday, August 1, 2026

Venue:  Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Where to Watch:  MLB TV, FOX

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Yankees -125, Cubs +105; Over/Under:  6.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Yankees -125, Cubs +105; Over/Under:  6.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Yankees -125, Cubs +105; Over/Under:  6.5 runs

New York Yankees:  61-48 (2nd place, AL East)

Chicago Cubs:  62-47 (2nd place, NL Central)

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New York Yankees:  6-4 last 10

Chicago Cubs:  6-4 last 10

The Yankees are entering this series off a loss and split their 4-game series against the Chicago White Sox 2-2 in their last series. They enter this game with a 61-48 record overall and have a road record of 35-25. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Cubs on Saturday with the series opener still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 12th in the MLB with a .725 OPS. Will Warren is their starting pitcher on Friday while Max Fried is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 4-3 with a 3.23 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 3 ER, 0 HR, and 2 BB with 4 SO on 5 hits through 3 IP against the Chicago White Sox.

The Cubs are entering this series off a win and won their 4-game series against the St Louis Cardinals 3-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 62-47 record overall and have a home record of 30-22. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Yankees on Saturday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 3rd in the MLB with a .755 OPS. Shota Imanaga is their starting pitcher on Friday while David Peterson is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 6-7 with a 5.80 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 2 earned runs, 1 homer, and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts on 3 hits through 5.1 innings pitched against the St Louis Cardinals.

The current betting odds have the Yankees listed as a slight favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Cubs have looked really good in their games this season with their 62-47 record overall which has them right near the top of the NL Central. They have looked great in their own ballpark too with their 30-22 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Yankees have looked really good in their games this season with their 61-48 record overall which has them right near the top of the AL East. They have been a great road team too with their 35-25 road record this year. The Cubs are 6-4 in their last 10 games and they have been rolling lately with one of the best offenses in the league. Their pitching hasn't been great though and they aren't going to have the better matchup here. The Yankees are also 6-4 in their last 10 games and they do have a good offense themselves that can match the Cubs here. The Yankees are going with Fried in this one and he has looked good this season. He is 4-3 with a 3.23 ERA and he hasn't been giving up many runs this season. He did give up 3 earned runs in his last start, but that hasn't been a common theme for him and the team has still won 2 games in a row now with him starting. The Cubs are going with Peterson in this one and he hasn't looked good this season. He is 6-7 with a 5.80 ERA and he has been giving up a ton of runs this year, going back to when he was on the Mets too. He only gave up 2 earned runs in his last start and the team has won 2 games in a row now with him starting, but that hasn't been a common theme for him this year and he has had some really bad starts in the last month. The Cubs do have the better offense here, but the Yankees don't have a bad offense themselves and the Yankees also have a big edge with their starter and bullpen. The best way to place a bet here is on the Yankees to win this game. 

Yankees Cubs Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Saturday, August 1, 2026 (7:15 pm ET start time) is Yankees 7 Cubs 4.

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New York Yankees: 19-20 (-11.6 units) on the moneyline against NL Central opponents. 259-193 (-17.4 units) on the moneyline in all games. 64-61 (-21.5 units) on the moneyline in an inter-league game. 27-13 UNDER vs. a starting pitcher whose gives up 1 or more HR's/start.

Chicago Cubs: 22-16 (+5.8 units) on the moneyline against AL East opponents. 241-199 (+16.8 units) on the moneyline in all games. 129-90 (+10.9 units) on the moneyline in home games. 22-13 UNDER against AL East opponents.

New York Yankees:  J. Chisholm Jr. (2B) Day To Day - Undisclosed. C. Bellinger (LF) Ten Day IL - Leg. A. Judge (RF) Sixty Day IL - Rib. C. Rodon (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. G. Stanton (DH) Ten Day IL - Leg. C. Schmidt (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Chicago Cubs:  P. Maton (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Knee. M. Shaw (RF) Ten Day IL - Hand. E. Roberts (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. H. Milner (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Appendicitis. B. Brown (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Neck. E. Cabrera (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Hamstring. D. Palencia (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. R. Martin (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. P. Hodge (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Horton (SP) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. H. Harvey (RP) Sixty Day IL - Tricep. J. Steele (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. T. Austin (1B) Sixty Day IL - Knee. S. Miller (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“We have to score a freaking point. The pitchers again did their job. The bullpen was good, including Cruz. We’ve got to score. That’s the story, the beginning and end of it. We’ve got to find a way.” - Aaron Boone after his team’s loss against the White Sox in their game on Thursday. 

“This group has just stabilized. That’s not a concern. You’re always concerned about depth, because of injuries. The group has performed. I think those questions are gone. But, there’s always going to be a quest to get better.” - Craig Counsell after his team’s win against the Cardinals in their game on Thursday. 

Trent Grisham (L) CF

Ben Rice (L) 1B

Jasson Domínguez (S) RF

Paul Goldschmidt (R) DH

Spencer Jones (L) LF

Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B

Anthony Volpe (R) SS

Ryan McMahon (L) 3B

Austin Wells (L) C

Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF

Seiya Suzuki (R) DH

Michael Busch (L) 1B

Alex Bregman (R) 3B

Ian Happ (S) LF

Nico Hoerner (R) 2B

Michael Conforto (L) RF

Carson Kelly (R) C

Dansby Swanson (R) SS

Batting Average:  Ben Rice (.269)

Hits:  Ben Rice (105)

Home Runs:  Ben Rice (31)

RBI:  Ben Rice (73)

Stolen Bases:  Jazz Chisholm (30)

Wins:  Cam Schlittler (10)

Saves:  David Bednar (22)

ERA:  Yovanny Cruz (0.00)

Batting Average:  James Triantos (.500)

Hits:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (117)

Home Runs:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (24)

RBI:  Dansby Swanson (63)

Stolen Bases:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (26)

Wins:  Colin Rea (8)

Saves:  Jacob Webb (5)

ERA:  Ty Blach (0.00)

Managers:

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone (9th season)

Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell (3rd season)