New York Yankees vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, Preview and Odds - 07/31/2026

Game Time: 2:20 pm ET, Friday, July 31, 2026

Venue:  Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Yankees +118, Cubs -142; Over/Under:  9 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Yankees +120, Cubs -140; Over/Under:  9 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Yankees +120, Cubs -145; Over/Under:  9 runs

New York Yankees:  61-47 (2nd place, AL East)

Chicago Cubs:  61-47 (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 series opener of a 3-game series with the Cubs on Friday. Their offense ranks 11th in the MLB with a .727 OPS. Ryan Weathers was their starting pitcher on Thursday while Will Warren is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 7-5 with a 4.41 ERA this season. His team won 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 6 ER, 1 HR, and 2 BB with 5 SO on 6 hits through 3 IP against the Philadelphia Phillies.

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 61-47 record overall and have a home record of 30-22. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Yankees on Friday. Their offense ranks 4th in the MLB with a .755 OPS. Javier Assad was their starting pitcher on Thursday while Shota Imanaga is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 7-8 with a 3.72 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 0 earned runs, 0 homers, and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts on 4 hits through 6 innings pitched against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The current betting odds have the Cubs listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Cubs have looked really good in their games this season with their 61-47 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 Yankees are 6-4 in their last 10 games and they have been rolling lately, but they have also been dealing with some injuries and their offense hasn't looked as good without the missing players. The Cubs do have one of the best offenses themselves and they have looked good lately too, now 6-4 in their last 10 games. The Cubs are going with Imanaga in this one and he has looked good this season. He is 7-8 with a 3.72 ERA and he has looked a lot better lately. He is coming off a great start giving up no runs which has been starting to become a common theme with him lately and the team has been having more success too, winning 2 games in a row now with him starting. The Yankees are going with Warren in this one and he hasn't looked great this season. He is 7-5 with a 4.41 ERA and he has been giving up quite a few runs all year. The team has won 2 of their last 3 games with him starting, but he did give up 6 earned runs in his last start and that has been a common theme for him this season. The Cubs definitely have the better offense at the moment and they are going to have the better pitching matchup here too, so look for them to take advantage of that. The best way to place a bet here is on the Cubs to win this game. 

Yankees Cubs Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, July 31, 2026 (2:20 pm ET start time) is Cubs 5 Yankees 3.

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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:  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’ve got to have a good throw. He’s playing catch. We’re big leaguers. We’re not going to not do things. Obviously an option is holding it, but it comes down to playing catch better there.” - Aaron Boone after his team’s loss against the White Sox in their game on Wednesday.

“That was a good game. They had some big at-bats in the 10th.” - Craig Counsell after his team’s loss against the Cardinals in their game on Wednesday.

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 (.271)

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 (115)

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)