The New York Yankees seek to halt a two-game losing streak as they face off against the Chicago Cubs in a pivotal interleague matchup on Friday, July 31. The Yankees recently suffered a 2-1 loss in 11 innings to the Chicago White Sox, while the Cubs celebrated a 4-2 victory in 10 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Currently, the Yankees hold a record of 61-48, positioning them second in the American League East and boasting a 35-25 record on the road this season. The Cubs, with a record of 62-47, sit second in the National League Central and have achieved a 30-22 home record in 2026.

The game is set to begin at 2:20 p.m. ET from Wrigley Field in Chicago. Historically, the Yankees lead the all-time series 27-9, but the Cubs have gained momentum, winning three of the last four encounters. According to the latest odds, the Cubs are favored at -156 on the money line, while the over/under is set at 9 runs.

Before placing any bets, it's crucial to consider insights from the SportsLine Projection Model, which has successfully simulated the game 10,000 times and is on a 39-23 run with top-rated MLB picks. The model forecasts that the total runs will exceed 9, noting that the Over has hit in three of the last five Yankees games and is 6-4 in the past ten games for the Cubs.

Key player projections include Yankees' Ben Rice and Trent Grisham expected to achieve over 1.5 total bases, while Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki are also projected to surpass that mark. The model anticipates a combined total of 9.5 runs for the game.

For detailed predictions and the most valuable money line pick, fans can visit SportsLine as the model locks in its selections.