New York Yankees vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction for Sunday August 2 2026

The Yankees and the Cubs are set to have an interleague set with the series finale at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Both teams come in with identical 62–48 records, so there’s a little extra edge to this matchup as each side looks to finish the weekend on a high note. Get involved in the action with our free MLB picks.

New York vs. Chicago Game Information

• August 2, 2026
• 2:20 PM EST
• Wrigley Field
• MLB.TV/Marquee Sports Network/YESN/Fubo

Chicago Form & Recent Results

Chicago heads into this matchup looking to bounce back after dropping their last game, though the bigger picture shows they’ve actually been playing fairly solid baseball lately. Before Saturday, the Cubs had won three of their previous five games, and what makes that stretch even more encouraging is that all three of those victories came on the road against the Cardinals in St. Louis. That kind of series win can give a team confidence, especially coming back home and facing a high-profile opponent like the Yankees.

On Friday night, however, Chicago couldn’t get much going offensively in a 2–0 loss to New York. Third baseman Pedro Ramirez was one of the few bright spots at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, but the Cubs managed just five hits as a team and couldn’t find the timely hit they needed to bring runs in. The pitching staff kept the game close, throwing 87 strikes and limiting the Yankees to four hits, but the lack of scoring support made it tough to come away with the win. Over the course of the season, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has been the heartbeat of the lineup, leading the Cubs in home runs at 24, RBI at 63, and even batting average at .283. Behind him, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki have also provided plenty of power, sitting second on the team with 18 home runs each. In their last five games, Chicago has averaged 4.6 runs per game, and they’ll be hoping that production shows up on Sunday afternoon as they try to earn a statement win in the series finale against a strong Yankees team.

New York Form & Recent Results

New York heads into this matchup riding a bit of momentum, coming off a win and taking three of their last five games overall. Interestingly, all three of those recent victories happened in Chicago, one against the Cubs and two against the White Sox, which should give them some confidence playing at Wrigley Field again. In Friday’s 2–0 road win over the Cubs, the Yankees got a key offensive spark from left fielder Spencer Jones, who finished 1-for-2 but made it count with a home run. He also drew a walk, scored a run, and drove in a run, helping New York do just enough offensively in a low-scoring game. As a team, the Yankees produced two homers, totaled 10 bases, and played a clean, disciplined game at the plate by not striking out or giving away many empty at-bats.

The bigger story, though, was the pitching. Starter Will Warren was sharp and efficient, working 6 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing just four hits. He didn’t issue a single walk and struck out seven, setting the tone for a staff performance that included 10 strikeouts and again, zero walks, which is exactly the kind of command that can win games on the road. Over the course of the season, first baseman Ben Rice has been the team’s most consistent power and run-producing threat, leading the Yankees with 31 home runs and 73 RBIs, and he also tops the roster in batting average at .269. Aaron Judge has provided another major power source as well, sitting second on the team with 17 home runs. In their last five games, New York has averaged about four runs per contest, and they’ll be hoping that steady production, paired with strong pitching, can help them close out the series with another win against the Cubs at Wrigley.

Key Stats

• New York’s Ben Rice this season: 31 HRs, 73 RBI, .269 AVG
• Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong this season: 24 HRs, 63 RBI, .283 AVG

Betting Odds & Market Overview:

• NYY -126 / CHC +104; O/U 6.5

New York vs. Chicago Picks and Prediction

Chicago will hand the ball to right-hander Colin Rea on Sunday at Wrigley Field, and he’ll be trying to build on a solid season so far. Rea comes in with an 8–7 record and a 4.67 ERA, but he’ll have his hands full against New York ace Gerrit Cole. Cole is slated to start for the Yankees as well, carrying a 4–5 mark and a 3.57 ERA into the matchup as the two teams wrap up their series. The Cubs are also looking for a response after Friday’s opener, when they were held scoreless. With the Yankees bringing a tough lineup and one of the game’s top arms, Chicago will need a sharper offensive showing if it wants to close the weekend on a high note. Final Score Prediction, Chicago Cubs win 4-1.