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The Boston Red Sox will take on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday, July 18, 2025. The game is set for an afternoon start at 2:20 PM and will be broadcast on MLBN. Fans can expect a mild day with a light breeze and few clouds in the sky.
Boston enters the game with a 53-45 record, sitting 3 games back in the AL East. Lucas Giolito will be on the mound for the Red Sox, boasting a 6-1 record with a 3.36 ERA. The Cubs, with a 57-39 record, look strong at home with a 30-16 record. Colin Rea will start for Chicago, carrying a 7-3 record and a 3.91 ERA.
Red Sox vs Cubs Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago Cubs
- Venue: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
- Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
- Betting Odds: Red Sox Moneyline +113, Cubs Moneyline -133
The Red Sox Can Win If…
The Boston Red Sox are coming off a strong performance against the Tampa Bay Rays, winning 4-1. Brayan Bello led the way on the mound, pitching 6 1/3 innings and allowing just one run. Ceddanne Rafaela was key at the plate, hitting a home run and driving in two runs.
The Red Sox have been consistent at the plate, with a team batting average of .256, ranking second in the league. They lead the league in doubles with 200, showing their ability to hit for extra bases. The team’s slugging percentage of .433 ranks fifth, indicating they can generate power when needed.
Lucas Giolito will start for the Red Sox with a solid ERA of 3.36 and a 6-1 record. His performance will be crucial in keeping the Cubs’ offense in check. With the combination of strong pitching and a powerful lineup, the Red Sox have the tools to secure another win.
The Cubs Can Win If…
The Chicago Cubs are coming off a 4-1 win against the New York Yankees. Shota Imanaga pitched seven innings, allowing just two hits and one run. Dansby Swanson and Michael Busch led the offense with home runs, contributing to the team’s ten hits in the game.
The Cubs have shown strong hitting stats this season. They rank second in batting average and slugging percentage, and third in home runs. Their ability to produce extra-base hits and score runs makes them a tough team to beat.
Colin Rea will start for the Cubs, bringing a 3.91 ERA and a 7-3 record. The Cubs’ pitching staff ranks sixth in quality starts, showing consistency on the mound. With a solid lineup and Rea on the mound, the Cubs are in a good position to win against the Boston Red Sox.
The Lean
The Cubs are favored to win with a moneyline of -133. The Red Sox have a moneyline of +113. My model projects the Cubs to win with a score of 5-4. The Cubs’ strong hitting stats, including a high slugging percentage and home run count, support this pick.
The total for the game is set at 8.5, with the over at -105 and the under at -117. My model projects a total score of 9. The Cubs’ and Red Sox’s offensive capabilities suggest a higher-scoring game. Betting on the over is recommended.
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Second Half Kickoff: Red-Hot Red Sox and Cubs Clash in Marquee Matchup
The All-Star break is over, and the second half of the Major League Baseball season kicks off with a marquee interleague matchup that could be a potential World Series preview. Two of the hottest teams in baseball will clash at the historic confines of Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon as the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs host a Boston Red Sox team that is riding a blistering 10-game winning streak. For both clubs, this series is a massive test and a chance to prove that their first-half success was no fluke as they begin the crucial summer stretch run.
Boston’s Blistering Run
No team in baseball entered the All-Star break with more momentum than the Boston Red Sox. After a difficult stretch that followed the trade of superstar Rafael Devers, many had written them off. Instead, they rallied together and caught fire, ripping off 10 consecutive victories to close out the first half. The streak, which included sweeps of the Nationals, Rockies, and Rays, has catapulted them right back into the thick of the American League playoff picture, now sitting just three games behind the first-place Blue Jays. A win on Friday would match the ninth-longest winning streak in their storied franchise history.
Despite the incredible run, manager Alex Cora is keeping his team grounded. “We’ve still got a long way to go,” Cora said. “We’re happy with this stretch, we’re happy with how we’ve been playing… but that’s part of 162 (games). We’re playing well.” His message is clear: the streak is great, but the job is far from finished.
The Giolito Renaissance
The single biggest reason for Boston’s turnaround has been the incredible resurgence of their starting pitcher, Lucas Giolito (6-1, 3.36 ERA), who will take the mound on Friday. After a disastrous start against the Angels on June 4 where he was shelled for seven runs, Giolito has been arguably the best pitcher on the planet. In his six starts since that blow-up, the veteran right-hander is a perfect 5-0 with a microscopic 0.70 ERA and 37 strikeouts. It is a run of pure dominance that has stabilized the Red Sox rotation and fueled their winning streak.
The one challenge for Giolito is that he will be facing his personal kryptonite. In five career starts against the Cubs, he has been terrible, posting a 2-3 record with a sky-high 7.86 ERA. This start is a chance for him to prove that he is a new pitcher and finally solve the one team that has always had his number.
The Consistent Cubs
While the Red Sox are riding a hot streak, the Cubs have been a model of consistency all season long. They are on pace for their most wins since their historic 2016 World Series championship season and are in a tight battle with the Dodgers for the best record in the National League. Their success has been built on a powerful and deep lineup, spearheaded by a pair of 25-homer sluggers in All-Stars Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki. The Cubs have been particularly dominant at Wrigley Field, where they have a 30-16 record.
Manager Craig Counsell has a simple philosophy for his team as they enter the second half. “Our job is to just keep winning,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. There’s so much season left. Just keep winning. Stack up wins and we’re going to be in a good position.”
A Duel of Hot Hands on the Mound
This game features a fantastic pitching matchup between two of the hottest right-handers in baseball. While Giolito has been nearly unhittable for a month, the Cubs will counter with their own steady veteran, Colin Rea (7-3, 3.91 ERA). Rea is on a three-game winning streak of his own and has allowed just four total runs over his last 18 2/3 innings. This elite duel will be the main event on the scores and odds board.
The Post-Break Test
The biggest question for both of these hot MLB teams is whether they can maintain their momentum after the four-day All-Star break. The days immediately following the break can be unpredictable, a key factor to consider in our expert betting guide. To see who our experts think will start the second half with a win, check out our daily MLB picks.
