The Chicago Cubs enter Monday night’s home game against the San Francisco Giants with a 21-14 record and the confidence of a first-place team that has steadily emerged as one of the National League’s most well-rounded and consistent contenders early in the 2025 season. They’ve built their success on a lethal combination of elite contact hitting, timely power, and steady pitching, and they now hold the highest team batting average in Major League Baseball at .262—an offensive stat that has allowed them to stay competitive in nearly every game and jump out to early leads against even top-tier opponents. Leading the charge is slugger Kyle Tucker, who continues to be a force in the middle of the order with nine home runs and 25 RBIs, while Ian Happ has caught fire in recent weeks, going 13-for-40 over the last 10 games and spraying doubles into the gaps with consistency and confidence. On the mound for the opener is veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd, who brings a 2-2 record with a sparkling 2.70 ERA and 30 strikeouts into the matchup, offering not only stability but the kind of command that allows him to minimize big innings and manage tough matchups with poise. Boyd has been particularly sharp at home, using the Wrigley Field environment to his advantage and keeping hitters off-balance with a diverse pitch mix.

Defensively, the Cubs have backed their staff with clean execution, committing few errors and making routine plays look easy, which has helped support a bullpen that has proven capable of closing out tight games and protecting slim leads with regularity. The bullpen depth—featuring effective arms in setup and closing roles—has allowed manager Craig Counsell to play matchups late in games with a high degree of success. With a 9-7 home record, the Cubs have done well protecting Wrigley Field, and their 17-15 mark against the spread shows that they’ve consistently met or exceeded expectations, especially when favored. They come into this series opener as -148 favorites, a nod to their superior starting pitching and more efficient offensive output compared to a Giants team that has been good but inconsistent when playing from behind. The key for Chicago will be to capitalize early against Giants starter Landen Roupp, who brings a 5.10 ERA into the game and has struggled with command and early-inning damage, which plays directly into the Cubs’ strength as one of the league’s most aggressive and productive lineups in the first three innings. If Boyd continues his trend of early dominance and the offense remains opportunistic with runners in scoring position, Chicago has an excellent chance to set the tone not only for this series but for another winning stretch that could provide more separation in the division. With the home crowd behind them, solid fundamentals across the board, and a team that continues to trend upward in all major statistical categories, the Cubs are poised to keep rolling and assert themselves as one of the true contenders in the National League this season.