The Sunday series finale between the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium is shaping up as one of the weekend’s most intriguing interleague matchups, with both teams entering in peak midseason form and riding momentum from elite performances on both sides of the ball. The Yankees have won five straight and continue to surge offensively, while the Cubs—despite losing the series opener 11–0—remain the top-scoring team in the National League and one of baseball’s most balanced threats. The pitching matchup features a left-handed showdown between New York’s Max Fried and Chicago’s Matthew Boyd, both of whom are enjoying career-best seasons and earned All-Star nods this week. Fried, acquired in the offseason, has delivered everything the Yankees hoped for, entering Sunday with a sparkling 2.27 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and elite command across his last five starts, during which the Yankees are undefeated. Boyd, on the other hand, has become Chicago’s unexpected ace with a 2.52 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a devastating off-speed arsenal that has baffled right-handed hitters across the National League. This matchup carries major playoff implications as well—both teams lead their respective divisions and look to enter the All-Star break with maximum momentum. The Yankees offense has been scorching hot lately, particularly thanks to Cody Bellinger’s three-home-run game Friday and Aaron Judge’s steady presence in the middle of the order. Add Paul Goldschmidt, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Giancarlo Stanton into the mix, and New York has the power to overwhelm even elite pitchers early.

But the Cubs’ offense is just as dangerous—led by Pete Crow-Armstrong, who’s slashing .325/.372/.700 in July, and supported by Kyle Tucker, Dansby Swanson, and Seiya Suzuki, Chicago averages 5.35 runs per game and leads the majors with 503 runs scored. Their approach is relentless: patient, opportunistic, and adaptable in both small-ball and slugfest scenarios. From a bullpen standpoint, neither side has been elite, but both have solid late-inning options: the Yankees rely on Clay Holmes and Adam Ottavino, while the Cubs counter with Imanaga and a crew of swingmen capable of bridging to closer Mark Leiter Jr. One key edge for the Yankees is location—Chicago has lost 9 of its last 11 visits to Yankee Stadium and historically struggles under the Bronx lights. That said, this current Cubs team feels more resilient and offensively versatile than past iterations, and if Boyd can hold the Yankees in check through the first five innings, the advantage may tilt toward Chicago’s high-contact hitters against New York’s middle relief. Vegas oddsmakers opened with the Yankees as slight favorites (–162 ML), and the total at 8 runs, which feels low considering both teams’ recent scoring explosions. Bettors should be wary of assuming a low-scoring duel, especially with two elite offenses and a ballpark that’s playing small this summer. Expect a tight game, likely within one or two runs either way, with the potential for a late-game swing by either team. Whether it’s Bellinger again or a timely double from Swanson, this finale could come down to one big hit against a tired arm—classic late-summer baseball with October implications.