Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
First Pitch: 2:20 PM ET
Watch Live: FOX, MLB.TV, NESN, Marquee Sports Network
The Cubs took Saturday’s game 6–0 behind a dominant performance from ace Shota Imanaga, while Boston looks to bounce back and avoid a sweep.
Chicago enters the finale with the best record in baseball, fueled by elite pitching and a deep lineup. Boston, meanwhile, has won eight of its last ten games, and remains in the thick of the AL East playoff race.
Starting Pitchers – July 20, 2025
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA | WHIP | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sox | Garrett Crochet (LHP) | 10–3 | 2.45 | 1.01 | 142 |
| Cubs | Cade Horton (RHP) | 7–5 | 3.88 | 1.27 | 98 |
- Garrett Crochet has been Boston’s ace, ranking among MLB leaders in ERA and strikeouts. He’s allowed just two earned runs over his last 20 innings, and his fastball/changeup combo has neutralized right-handed power.
- Cade Horton has struggled against right-handed hitters, allowing a .271 AVG and 52% hard-hit rate. He’ll need to contain Boston’s surging bats to keep the Cubs in control.
Players to Watch
Boston Red Sox
- Ceddanne Rafaela: Batting .271 with 15 HR and 15 RBI in his last 10 games; profiles well against Horton’s pitch mix
- Trevor Story: 15 HR, 58 RBI, 16 SB; hitting .257 with consistent production
- Wilyer Abreu: 18 HR, .281 ISO vs. fastballs and sweepers; dangerous power bat
Chicago Cubs
- Michael Busch: .290 AVG, 20 HR, 60 RBI; thriving in leadoff role with .926 OPS
- Kyle Tucker: .279 AVG, 17 HR, 61 walks; elite plate discipline and slugging
- Pete Crow-Armstrong: 25 HR, 18 SB; top-10 in MLB for HR and RBI
Team Comparison – Key Stats
| Category | Red Sox | Cubs |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Avg | .259 (5th MLB) | .271 (2nd MLB) |
| Runs/Game | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Home Runs | 145 (3rd MLB) | 151 (1st MLB) |
| Team ERA | 3.68 | 3.61 |
| Last 10 Games | 8–2 | 6–4 |
Both teams rank top-five in slugging and home runs, setting the stage for a potential offensive explosion.
Game Odds
Boston Red Sox 9
Chicago Cubs – 154
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, July 19, 2025
