The New York Yankees head into their three-game series at Wrigley Field with a 61-46 record. They are sitting a game and a half behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. In like manner, the Chicago Cubs match that exact baseball betting odds mark at 61-46. Thus, they trail the Milwaukee Brewers by five and a half games in the National League Central. Both clubs have been playing strong baseball of late.
The New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs present contrasting offensive profiles heading into their weekend offshore bookmaker series at Wrigley Field. New York sits near the bottom of the league in batting average. However, they are ranked among the top teams in power.
Namely, Ben Rice has emerged as a central figure in the middle of the order. He is leading the club in both home runs and RBIs. While Jazz Chisholm Jr. provides speed and secondary power. The absence of Aaron Judge continues to limit the ceiling of the lineup. Thus, forcing more reliance on complementary production from players like Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham.
Chicago’s offense leans more on contact and getting on base. The Cubs rank near the top ten in batting average and own one of the best on-base percentages in baseball. Additionally, their slugging percentage sits close to New York’s.
Pete Crow-Armstrong has been the standout, posting a strong average of .285 with 23 home runs and excellent baserunning. While Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, and Michael Busch contribute consistent secondary production. The Cubs put the ball in play more often and draw walks at a higher rate. Hence, creating more traffic on the bases even if their pure power numbers trail the Yankees.
New York Yankees at Chicago Cubs MLB Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, August 1, 2026, 7:15 PM ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. |
| TV Coverage: | FOX |
| Betting Online Odds at SBG: | Click Here |
The New York Yankees visit the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, August 1, 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Eastern Time at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The game will air nationally across the United States on FOX.
Probable Starting Pitchers and Bullpens
The probable starters for Saturday’s MLB odds matchup at Wrigley Field are left-hander Max Fried for the Yankees and left-hander David Peterson for the Cubs.
To illuminate, Fried is 4-3 with a 3.23 ERA over 69.2 innings this season, allowing just 49 hits while striking out 61 and walking 22 for a 1.02 WHIP. While Peterson sits at 6-7 with a 5.80 ERA in 94.2 innings, having given up 104 hits with 77 strikeouts and 40 walks for a 1.52 WHIP.
The Yankees enter the weekend series with one of the strongest bullpens in the American League. To illustrate, they are ranking near the top in overall effectiveness with a collective ERA hovering around 3.04 across more than 379 innings of relief work. David Bednar has anchored the ninth inning with a 2.40 ERA over 45 innings. Overall, he is converting the bulk of his save chances while limiting hard contact.
In comparison, Chicago’s relief corps sits in the middle of the pack with a bullpen ERA closer to 3.96 over a similar volume of innings. Jacob Webb has taken on interim closer responsibilities with a solid 2.78 ERA. While Ryan Rolison and Trent Thornton have provided reliable middle relief.
SBG Free Picks
With Max Fried on the mound for New York against David Peterson for Chicago, the matchup favors the Yankees’ side on Saturday at Wrigley Field. And New York’s superior bullpen provides a reliable late-inning cushion that Chicago cannot match. The Yankees have shown better overall run prevention all season. They are ranking near the top of the league in ERA.
SBG Best Bet: New York Yankees and Under the Total.