Cubs open 3-game series with the Yankees

ESPN logo
Friday, July 31, 2026 8:03AM

New York Yankees (61-48, second in the AL East) vs. Chicago Cubs (62-47, second in the NL Central)

Chicago; Friday, 2:20 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Yankees: Will Warren (7-5, 4.41 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 102 strikeouts); Cubs: Shota Imanaga (7-8, 3.72 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 113 strikeouts)

LINE: Cubs -159, Yankees +131; over/under is 9 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs host the New York Yankees on Friday to begin a three-game series.

Chicago has a 30-22 record in home games and a 62-47 record overall. Cubs hitters have a collective .340 on-base percentage, the second-ranked percentage in the NL.

New York is 35-25 in road games and 61-48 overall. Yankees hitters have a collective .413 slugging percentage to lead the AL.

Friday's game is the first time these teams meet this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Nico Hoerner has 23 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 50 RBI while hitting .257 for the Cubs. Alex Bregman is 15 for 43 with six doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.

Ben Rice leads the Yankees with a .269 batting average, and has 19 doubles, three triples, 31 home runs, 53 walks and 73 RBI. Cody Bellinger is 12 for 34 with two RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 6-4, .283 batting average, 3.03 ERA, outscored opponents by 27 runs

Yankees: 6-4, .205 batting average, 2.99 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs

INJURIES: Cubs: Hoby Milner: 15-Day IL (appendicitis), Edward Cabrera: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow), Matt Shaw: 10-Day IL (hand), Riley Martin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (tricep), Phil Maton: 15-Day IL (knee), Ethan Roberts: 15-Day IL (forearm), Christopher Austin: 60-Day IL (knee), Daniel Palencia: 15-Day IL (elbow), Ben Brown: 15-Day IL (neck), Porter Hodge: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cade Horton: 60-Day IL (forearm), Shelby Miller: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Yankees: Jazz Chisholm: day-to-day (undisclosed), Cody Bellinger: 10-Day IL (leg), Carlos Rodon: 15-Day IL (elbow), Aaron Judge: 60-Day IL (rib), Giancarlo Stanton: 10-Day IL (leg), Clarke Schmidt: 60-Day IL (elbow)

------

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Copyright © 2026 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.