The Chicago Cubs (41-47) and New York Yankees (49-41) play the rubber match of their 3-game weekend set Sunday. First pitch from Yankee Stadium is slated for 1:35 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Yankees odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 1-1
The Yankees evened the 3-game set with a 6-3 victory Saturday as -201 home favorites. RF Giancarlo Stanton hit 2 home runs, DH Josh Donaldson added a solo shot and RHP Gerrit Cole improved to 9-2 after allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and a walk in 7 1/3 innings.
The Cubs are limping into the All-Star break with a 4-9 record over their last 13 games. Thy have fallen 8 games back in the NL Central, despite being the only team in the division with a positive run differential (+23).
The Yankees ended a 3-game skid with Saturday’s win and are 4-5 in their last 9. They are 28-22 at home this season, while the Cubs are 20-25 on the road.
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Cubs at Yankees projected starters
RHP Kyle Hendricks vs. RHP Domingo German
Hendricks (3-3, 2.64 ERA) makes his 9th start. He has a 0.94 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 5.1 K/9 through 47 2/3 innings.
- His 5.1 K/9 is the lowest of his career, but he has still provided strong ratios, thanks in large part to a .224 BABIP and 3.4% HR/FB.
- He has posted a 1.71 ERA in 4 road starts, albeit with just 14 strikeouts across 26 1/3 IP.
German (5-5, 4.52 ERA) makes his 17th start. He has a 1.10 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 8.7 K/9 through 85 2/3 innings.
- He has been very up-and-down lately, as his final 3 June starts included back-to-back outings in which he allowed a combined 15 ER in 5 1/3 IP, followed by a perfect game in his final start of the month.
- Even with the blowups mixed in, he has still allowed 2 ER or less in 8 of his last 11 starts.
- He has registered a 4.61 ERA in 8 home starts with a 7.7 K/9 and 6 HR in 41 IP (1.3 HR/9).
Cubs at Yankees odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:18 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cubs +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Yankees -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs +1.5 (-165) | Yankees -1.5 (+140)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Cubs at Yankees picks and predictions
Prediction
Yankees 6, Cubs 4
Moneyline
Hendricks has the outstanding ratios, but his skills have been soft, and his luck is sure to run out soon. German has had some bumps in the road, but he’s missing plenty of bats, inducing 12-plus swinging strikes in each of his last 3 starts.
The Yankees (-145) are likely to come out on top, but we can probably find better value elsewhere, so PASS on the moneyline.
Run line/Against the spread
In Chicago’s last 16 losses, 15 of them have been by more than 1 run. Hendricks has been effective so far, but the lack of strikeouts leaves him prone to blowups and the value here looks strong enough to make a small play on YANKEES -1.5 (+140).
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Over/Under
The Over is 5-2 in the Cubs’ last 7 games and 4-1 in their last 5 vs a right-handed starter. Meanwhile, the Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 games for the Yankees as well as in their last 6 against a right-hander.
Neither of these starting pitchers look like great bets to dominate the competition, so both offenses should have a decent day in this one. Look for the total to sneak OVER 8.5 (-110).
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