Red Sox vs Cubs – Predictions & Betting Tips

Teams looking to stay in playoff contention in the second half of the season hook up on Saturday in an intriguing interleague matchup. The Boston Red Sox entered the All-Star break as the hottest team in baseball winning 10 games in a row to close within three games of first place in the AL East. The Chicago Cubs won their final two pre-break contests to maintain a slim one-game lead over the surging Brewers in the NL Central. The Cubs boast one of the top offenses in baseball ranking among the top 5 in scoring, average, OPS and home runs. They also have the best run differential in MLB at +119.

Red Sox vs. Cubs Game Preview

The interleague tilt between storied MLB franchises takes place on Saturday, July 19, 2025 from Wrigley Field in Chicago. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET with the game televised on FOX. Check out the latest MLB betting odds at Prime.

A number of experts mocked the Sox when they traded Rafael Devers last month. But Boston has overcome the initial hardship of the deal going 16-9 since the deal. Of course winning 10 straight is a boost, but there’s something to be said about the makeup of the club now as opposed to when Devers was declining to work at other positions. And the Giants, the club that acquired Devers, have a losing record since the swap. Jettisoning Devers allowed the Sox to cultivate their young talent. And the prospects have grown up in a hurry helping the Sox rank among the top 10 in several offensive categories.

Pitching remains a question mark for both teams entering the second half, but the staffs have held up so far. The Sox are scheduled to send Brayan Bello to the hill on Saturday. He had a pair of wins during the 10-game win streak and has won his last three starts tossing a complete game with 10 strikeouts against Colorado on July 8. He was also on the bump when the club matched its longest streak since 2018 giving up one run on six hits with five Ks in 6.1 innings in a 4-1 win over Tampa Bay on July 13. Bello has recorded a quality start in seven of his last eight outings.

Chicago’s relentless offense will be a stiff test for Bello and the Sox. The Cubs hit (4th in average), hit for power (3rd in HRs) and run the bases (3rd in SBs) better than most every team in the majors. They average more than 5.3 runs/game despite not having a regular hitting higher than .290. Seven players have hit at least 25 home runs at the break and two of them – Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong – are on the Cubs. Chicago’s rotation got a boost with the return of Saturday’s scheduled starter Shota Imanaga. The lefty is 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA in four starts after missing more than a month with an injury.

Red Sox vs. Cubs Predictions

The Sox probably didn’t want to break for the All-Star Game having their longest winning streak since 2018 interrupted. And it’s not like they were all that good before it began so it’s hard to take them seriously. The Cubs on the other hand have been fairly consistent all season. A preseason favorite to win their division they’ve held down the top spot for most of the year. One issue earlier in the year was a spotty bullpen, but the Cubs have cleaned up their act significantly and boast the sixth lowest ERA in the majors. And with games coming down to relievers I have to give Chicago the edge in that department.

Red Sox vs. Cubs Betting Tips

Given their offensive exploits this season it’s enticing to back the OVER in this matchup. But with two starters who have been tossing the ball well recently and bullpens that rank among the 10 best in the majors I have to lean toward the UNDER. I also can’t see Boston doing enough damage against Imanaga and Chicago’s relievers to score enough runs. It’s been boom or bust for the Cubs scoring a lot of runs in a few games to boost their average.

Red Sox vs. Cubs Head-to-Head and Key Stats

Over the past two seasons the teams have combined to score a lot of runs. In six matchups, which Boston won four, the lowest run total in a game was eight. The OVER is 5-0-1 in that span. Chicago’s only win was backed by a strong outing from Imanaga, who allowed just five hits and one run over 6.1 innings in Chicago’s 7-1 triumph.