New York Yankees vs Chicago Cubs Prediction 7/31/2026 Today’s MLB Picks

In this article, we will formulate a Yankees vs Cubs Prediction for this MLB matchup on Friday, July 31st in the opening game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.

Chicago Cubs Preview

The Chicago Cubs have a 62-47 record this season and are sitting in the 2nd place of the NL Central. They have a 30-22 home record and are coming off a 2-1 home win against the Yankees. They will face the Dodgers and the Royals next.

The Chicago Cubs have a .249 batting average this season, .340 OBP and .415 Slugging percentage. Chicago’s pitching staff has a 4.15 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Pete Crow-Armstrong is the team’s best hitter with a .285 batting average, leading the team in RBI with 63 and adding a team-high 24 home runs.

Shota Imanaga (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, and he has a 7-8 record, 3.72 ERA and 1.10 WHIP.

New York Yankees Preview

The New York Yankees have a 61-48 record this season and are sitting in the 2nd place of the AL East. They have a 35-25 away record and are coming off a 1-2 road loss against the Cubs. They will face the Cardinals and the Braves next.

The New York Yankees have a .233 batting average this season, .312 OBP and .413 Slugging percentage. New York’s pitching staff has a 3.36 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Ben Rice is the team’s best hitter with a .269 batting average, leading the team in RBI with 73 and adding a team-high 31 home runs.

Will Warren (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, and he has a 7-5 record, 4.41 ERA and 1.41 WHIP.

New York Yankees @ the Chicago Cubs Betting Trends: July 31, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Shota Imanaga      Record this season: 7-8      ERA: 3.72
• Home Record: 4-4
• Last 5 against Yankees: 1-0

Why the Chicago Cubs will win

• The Yankees have lost seven of their last eight day games against NL Central opponents.
• The Cubs have won each of their last five day games after going to extra innings.
• The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last six games.
• The Yankees have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five day games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• The Cubs have led after 3 innings in 11 of their last 12 home games against AL East opponents.
• The Cubs have won the first inning in six of their last seven home games.
• The Cubs have led after 5 innings in each of their last four home games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Will Warren      Record this season: 7-5      ERA: 4.41
• Road Record: 3-3
• Last 5 against Cubs: 0-1

Why the New York Yankees will win

• The Cubs have lost four of their last five games as home favorites following a win.
• The underdogs have won six of the Yankees’ last eight games at Wrigley Field.
• The Cubs have failed to cover the run line each of their last six day games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
• The road team has covered the run line in seven of the Cubs’ last eight games.
• The Yankees have led after 3 innings in three of their last four road games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in seven of their last eight Friday games as favorites.

Total Runs Facts

• Nine of the Yankees’ last 10 road games following an extra innings loss have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Eight of the Cubs’ last nine day games as favorites have gone OVER the total runs line.
• There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in each of the Cubs’ last eight home games.
• There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in five of the Yankees’ last six games at Wrigley Field.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Seiya Suzuki has hit a home run in each of the Cubs’ last two games against AL East opponents.
• Shota Imanaga has recorded six or more strikeouts in five of his six previous appearances against AL East opponents.
• Michael Busch has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last 12 home games against AL opponents.
• Shota Imanaga has recorded a win in each of his four previous appearances against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks T4th in the league in Steals (26) this season.

New York Yankees Player Prop Facts

• Amed Rosario has hit a home run in two of his last three appearances with his team as a road underdog against NL Central opponents.
• Will Warren has recorded five or more strikeouts in three of his last four appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• Jasson Dominguez has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Jazz Chisholm ranks T2nd in the league in Steals (30) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Cubs rank 1st in the league for walks this season (473).
• The Cubs rank 1st in the league for walks this season (473).
• The Yankees rank 1st in the league for ERA this season (3.31).
• The Yankees rank 1st in the league for ERA this season (3.31).

Yankees vs Cubs Prediction

The Cubs are 3-1 in their last 4 meetings against the Yankees but have lost two of their last three meetings in Chicago.

In this Yankees vs Cubs Prediction, the Cubs are coming as -160 home favorites. I like the Cubs in this one with Imanaga on the mound, who has been in excellent form, having given up just one run across his last three starts. On the flip side, Will Warren has been in bad shape for the Yankees, having given up 6 runs in two of his last three starts and has been terrible on the road with a 5.00 ERA. The Cubs have a better offense to offer Imanaga run support and I expect them to get the job done at home in this one.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Chicago Cubs ML