First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET
Venue: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington
TV: MARQ / SEAM (Marquee Sports Network / Root Sports Northwest)
This is the series finale of a three-game interleague set. The Mariners lead the series 2-0 after a 6-5 walk-off win in 10 innings on Friday and a 5-4 walk-off victory on Saturday (Randy Arozarena’s two-run homer). Chicago remains firmly in the NL wild-card picture; Seattle is fighting to stay relevant in the AL West.
Starting Pitchers
- Chicago: LHP Shota Imanaga (8-9, 3.77 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 140 K in 143.1 IP). The Japanese left-hander has been solid overall with strong recent form (quality starts and high strikeout totals, including 10 K in his last outing). Excellent command and swing-and-miss stuff.
- Seattle: RHP Bryce Miller (4-7, 3.71 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 87 K in 89.2 IP). Right-hander with good home numbers historically this season but has struggled in recent starts (higher run totals in August). Strong WHIP and strikeout ability when on.
Current Rosters / Key Players
Cubs key contributors: Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF, power/speed leader with 32 HR), Alex Bregman (IF, recent multi-HR games), Michael Busch (IF, power), Nico Hoerner (IF), Seiya Suzuki (OF), Ian Happ (OF), Tyrone Taylor (OF), Miguel Amaya (C). Strong offensive unit with high OBP and power.
Mariners key contributors: Randy Arozarena (OF, recent walk-off hero and multi-hit games), Julio Rodríguez (OF), Josh Naylor (IF), Dominic Canzone (DH/OF), Cal Raleigh (C), Taylor Ward (OF), Cole Young (IF), Leo Rivas (IF). Offense has shown timely power in the series despite lower overall averages.
Injury Reports
Cubs: Dansby Swanson (10-day IL, side); Matt Shaw (10-day IL, hand); Hoby Milner (15-day IL); Edward Cabrera (15-day IL, blister); Kevin Gausman (day-to-day, hand); longer-term absences including Ben Brown, Hunter Harvey, Cade Horton, Phil Maton, and others (neck, tricep, forearm, knee, elbow). Core lineup (Crow-Armstrong, Bregman, Busch, Hoerner, Suzuki) largely intact.
Mariners: J.P. Crawford and Colt Emerson (10-day IL, wrist); Cole Wilcox (15-day IL, oblique); longer-term absences including Luke Raley, Matt Brash, Will Wilson, Cooper Criswell, and others (elbow, lat, thumb, shoulder). Stars like Arozarena, Rodríguez, Naylor, and Raleigh available.
Weather Forecast (T-Mobile Park / Seattle)
Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the low-to-mid 70s°F (around 71–75°F). Lows in the upper 50s. Light winds. Slight chance of light drizzle or scattered showers earlier, but overall dry and mild for the afternoon start. Retractable roof available if needed; conditions should favor pitching slightly in the pitcher-friendly park.
Recent Team Forms
- Cubs (74-56): Lost the first two of this series after a mixed stretch. Strong overall season with high run production. Last 10 roughly 4-6.
- Mariners (62-68): Won two straight walk-offs to take the series lead. Improved recent form at home. Last 10 roughly 6-4.
Series History / Head-to-Head
Mariners lead the series 2-0 with dramatic late-inning wins. Limited prior 2026 meetings; Seattle has the home edge in this set. Games have been low-scoring and competitive.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
- Imanaga (LHP, command and Ks) vs. Mariners righty power and contact (Arozarena, Rodríguez, Naylor, Canzone, Raleigh). Imanaga’s ability to limit hard contact and induce weak contact will be key against Seattle’s opportunistic lineup.
- Miller (RHP, home strength) vs. Cubs power and OBP threats (Crow-Armstrong, Bregman, Busch, Suzuki, Happ). Miller must navigate the Cubs’ patient, high-contact approach.
- Bullpens and late innings: Both teams have shown resilience; Seattle has thrived in extras/walk-offs. Power (Crow-Armstrong, Arozarena, Bregman) vs. speed (Crow-Armstrong, Rodríguez). T-Mobile Park’s dimensions and mild weather lean toward lower scoring if starters settle in.
Betting Trends
Cubs strong road performers overall; Mariners competitive at home in close games and as underdogs. Totals often stay under at T-Mobile Park.
Game Odds
Chicago Cubs 7.5
Seattle Mariners – 105
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, August 22, 2026
