MLB Game Preview: Chicago Cubs (76-56) vs. San Francisco Giants (64-68)

Game Details

First pitch is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. ET, with live coverage on NBC Bay Area and SportsNet LA.

Pitching Matchup

Rea has delivered six quality starts this season and carries a .261 opponents’ average into his 23rd outing. Whisenhunt makes his fifth appearance after posting a 4.91 ERA and striking out 13 batters so far.

Team Overviews

The Cubs rank 6th in MLB with a .428 slugging percentage, maintain a .249 batting average and a .319 on-base rate, and have launched 178 home runs while scoring 648 runs on the season. Chicago’s road mark sits at 35–31.

San Francisco slashes .231/.308/.376 at Oracle Park, has compiled 1,005 hits and 530 runs, and ranks 27th in slugging with 128 long balls. The Giants are 31–33 at home.

Key Storylines

• San Francisco leads the season series 3–1 and seeks to close out the Cubs’ three-game win streak at home.
• Oracle Park’s deep alleys have produced an 8.5-run total for tonight’s contest, reflecting its pitcher-friendly reputation.
• Chicago has entered the over in 61 of 131 games this year, one of the highest rates in baseball.

Players to Watch

• Colin Rea (Cubs): His six quality starts rank among MLB leaders, and he’s logged at least five innings in four straight outings.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs): Leads Chicago with 66 extra-base hits (34 doubles, 4 triples, 28 homers), providing constant pop up and down the lineup.
• Willy Adames (Giants): Boasts 22 home runs and 65 RBI, and he’s gone 2-for-4 with a homer in two of his last three games.
• Luis Matos (Giants): Has reached base in nine of his last ten starts, including multiple extra-base hits in four contests this month.

Betting Outlook

• Cubs over trends: 61 of 131 (46.6%) games have gone over this mark.
• San Francisco has covered 25 of 54 games as underdogs this season, demonstrating value against the spread when listed longer than +100.

Expect Colin Rea’s veteran steadiness and Chicago’s power to tilt the finale in the visitors’ favor. A fast start by the Cubs should force San Francisco into a bullpen-heavy game.