Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts.
Scheduled First Pitch Times
Game 1: Approximately 1:05 p.m. ET (sources vary slightly around 1:05–1:06 p.m. ET; some list related CT conversions).
TV: NESN / MARQ.
Game 2: Approximately 5:35–6:05 p.m. ET (reports cluster around 5:35/6:05 p.m. ET).
TV: NESN / MARQ. usatoday.com
This is a Friday doubleheader (rescheduled elements due to an approaching nor’easter), part of a late-season interleague series.
Records (as of the games): Chicago Cubs 88-71 (2nd in NL Central); Boston Red Sox 85-74 (3rd in AL East). Cubs average ~5.3 runs/game (elite offense, high HR total ~218); Red Sox ~4.3 runs/game with stronger overall pitching (team ERA around 3.55–3.56).
Probable starting pitchers:
Game 1: Clay Holmes (RHP, Cubs; overall ~6-8, 3.25 ERA, ~1.16–1.17 WHIP in 17 starts/~97 IP) vs. Alec Gamboa (LHP, Red Sox; 1-0, 1.16 ERA, 1.06 WHIP in limited work, acting as opener in recent usage).
Game 2: David Peterson (LHP, Cubs; ~9-8 overall / noted splits with Cubs, ERA in the 3.94–4.96 range depending on sample) vs. Brayan Bello (RHP, Red Sox; 6-7, ~4.49 ERA, ~1.35–1.37 WHIP).
Current Weather Forecast (Fenway Park area)
Mostly cloudy/breezy conditions for Friday with highs in the mid-60s°F (around 63–67°F). Northeast winds 15–25+ mph (gusts higher, often blowing in from left/center, suppressing home runs). Low precipitation chance during daytime games (single-digit to low teens % early, rising later/overnight); rain more likely Friday night into the weekend as a nor’easter approaches. Cooler and wetter Saturday/Sunday expected, which factored into the doubleheader scheduling.
Injury Reports
Cubs: Alex Bregman (face/cheek fractures; day-to-day/questionable, some reports of DH availability or limited return window); Kevin Gausman (shoulder, day-to-day/probable in some contexts); longer-term absences include Justin Steele (elbow), Ben Brown (neck, season-ending concerns), Phil Maton (knee), Hunter Harvey (triceps), Trent Thornton (ankle), Gavin Hollowell (shoulder), and others on IL. Position players like Ian Happ have had minor issues but recent activity noted.
Red Sox: Willson Contreras (hand/knuckle, out or limited—reports indicate he may miss the doubleheader or struggle to swing pain-free); Anthony Seigler (wrist, 10-day IL); Eli White (foot, longer-term); Masataka Yoshida (hamstring); Curtis Mead (wrist); pitchers including Garrett Crochet (shoulder/lat), Tanner Houck (elbow), Johan Oviedo (elbow), and others on IL. Ceddanne Rafaela has had recent hamstring/quad notes but activation activity.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups & Notes
Offense vs. pitching: Cubs feature strong bats including Pete Crow-Armstrong (.280 AVG, high HR/RBI totals, power/speed threat), Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner, Michael Busch, and (if available) Alex Bregman. They rank among MLB leaders in runs and OPS. Red Sox counter with Ceddanne Rafaela and others, but lower overall run production and power.
Holmes (RHP, ground-ball tendencies in some profiles) faces a Cubs-heavy lineup that hits RHP well overall. Gamboa (LHP opener with strong limited numbers, low HR rate) could neutralize some lefty bats short-term before bulk relief. Peterson (LHP) vs. Bello (RHP) sets up platoon considerations; Cubs have shown solid production vs. RHP.
Fenway specifics + inbound wind favor contact/ground balls and suppress power. Key watch items: Crow-Armstrong vs. LHP/RHP splits; Red Sox ability to manufacture runs without full power lineup.
Recent Team Forms
Cubs: Mixed late stretch (sources show ~5-5 or 6-4 in last 10; recent win over Marlins noted after some losses). Strong season-long offense but pitching injuries have tested depth. Away record solid (~42-36).
Red Sox: ~4-6 last 10; recent results mixed (including a 1-0 win over Cleveland). Home roughly even (~38-39 range). Better team ERA but offensive inconsistency. Both clubs are in late playoff/wild-card contention mode.
Series History
Limited 2026 meetings prior to this series (interleague). Historical recent head-to-head includes mixed results (e.g., 2025 series splits noted in some recaps). Fenway has historically favored certain styles, but current rosters and wind shift dynamics. Full series continues Saturday (weather-dependent) and beyond.
Betting Trends
Cubs stronger as favorites in some samples; unders perform in windy/pitcher-friendly Fenway conditions; both teams have mixed ATS records in recent starts for these pitchers.
Game 1 Odds
Chicago Cubs – 126
Boston Red Sox 6.5
Game 2 Odds
Chicago Cubs – 109
Boston Red Sox 6
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, September 24, 2026
