Game Overview
- Time: 6:38 PM PT
- Venue: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
- Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network West / MLB.tv
- Records: Cubs (2nd NL Central), Angels (4th AL West)
- Season Series: First meeting of the year
Pitching Matchup
| Team | Starting Pitcher | W–L | ERA | WHIP | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cubs | Ben Brown (RHP) | — | 5.08 | 1.32 | 172 |
| Angels | Tyler Anderson (LHP) | 2–8 | 4.77 | 1.42 | 98 |
- Brown brings strikeout upside but has struggled with consistency and long balls.
- Anderson has pitched five or more innings in 17 starts but owns a subpar ERA and WHIP.
Team Trends
Chicago Cubs
- Last 10 Games: 6–4
- Batting Average: .200
- ERA: 2.83
- Top Performers:
- Pete Crow-Armstrong: 27 HR, ranks 13th in MLB
- Nico Hoerner: .289 AVG, team leader
- Kyle Tucker: .258 AVG, 18 HR, 80 walks
- Road Record: 32–30
- Slugging: .429 (Top 10 in MLB)
Los Angeles Angels
- Last 10 Games: 5–5
- Batting Average: .234
- ERA: 5.66
- Top Performers:
- Taylor Ward: 29 HR, 92 RBI — top 10 in MLB for both
- Nolan Schanuel: .269 AVG, team leader
- Zach Neto: 12-for-40, 4 HR, 9 RBI in last 10 games
- Home Record: 34–32
- Slugging: 176 HR (Top 10 in MLB)
The Cubs enter as favorites with a deeper lineup and stronger bullpen. Crow-Armstrong and Tucker provide power, while Brown’s strikeout rate could neutralize the Angels’ top bats. But if Ward and Neto stay hot and Anderson delivers a quality start, the Angels could steal Game 1 at home.
Game Odds
Chicago Cubs – 146
Los Angeles Angels 9.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, August 21, 2025
