Chicago Cubs vs Baltimore Orioles Picks and Predictions August 2nd 2025

Chicago Cubs vs Baltimore Orioles August 2nd 2025

The Baltimore Orioles will take on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field this Saturday afternoon. The Orioles come into the game with a record of 50-60 and are ranked fifth in the AL East. They have recently lost two games in a row but have a decent record of 6-4 in their last ten games.

The Cubs, on the other hand, hold a 64-45 record and are second in the NL Central. They are riding a two-game winning streak and have split their last ten games at 5-5. The game will feature Tomoyuki Sugano starting for the Orioles and Matthew Boyd for the Cubs. The weather forecast predicts overcast clouds with a light breeze, making for a mild day at the ballpark.

Orioles vs Cubs Key Information

• Sport: Baseball
• Teams: Baltimore Orioles vs. Chicago Cubs
• Venue: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
• Date: Saturday, August 2, 2025
• Betting Odds: Orioles Moneyline +171, Cubs Moneyline -204

The Orioles Can Win If…

The Baltimore Orioles recently faced the Chicago Cubs and lost 1-0. Trevor Rogers pitched well, going eight innings with eight strikeouts and allowing only one run. The Orioles had three hits, including a double by Adley Rutschman, but couldn’t score.

Despite the recent loss, the Orioles have shown strong hitting power. They rank 8th in slugging percentage this season with .411 and have hit 136 home runs, ranking 10th. Their lineup includes players like Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson, who both have 12 home runs this season.

Tomoyuki Sugano will start on the mound for the Orioles. Sugano has a record of 8-5 with an ERA of 4.38. With his experience, Sugano can help the Orioles secure a win against the Cubs.

The Cubs Can Win If…

The Chicago Cubs are coming off a tight win against the Baltimore Orioles, with a final score of 1-0. Pitcher Cade Horton was key, delivering five scoreless innings and allowing only two hits. Carson Kelly contributed with two hits, helping the Cubs secure the victory.

The Cubs have strong hitting stats this season. They rank third in batting average at .255 and second in slugging percentage at .442. Their power is evident with 158 home runs, placing them third in the league.

Matthew Boyd will start for the Cubs, bringing an impressive ERA of 2.47 into the game. His performance has been consistent, with an 11-4 record this season. With Boyd on the mound and their solid hitting, the Cubs have a strong chance to win.

The Lean

The Cubs are favored with a moneyline of -204 against the Orioles at +171. The Cubs have a stronger batting average and slugging percentage, ranking 3rd and 2nd respectively, compared to the Orioles. With a projected score of Cubs 5, Orioles 3, the recommendation is to pick the Cubs to win straight up.

The total for the game is set at 8.0 runs, with the over at -113 and the under at -108. The Cubs’ pitching has a better ERA, ranking 16th compared to the Orioles’ 27th. Given the projected total score of 8 runs, the recommendation is to pick the under 8.0 for this game.

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A Tale of Two Timelines: Playoff-Bound Cubs Host Rebuilding Orioles

It is a matchup that perfectly illustrates the different realities of Major League Baseball. On one side, you have the Chicago Cubs, a powerhouse with its eyes firmly set on a deep October run and a World Series title. On the other, you have the Baltimore Orioles, a proud franchise in the midst of a full-scale rebuild, a team that just traded away nearly a dozen veteran players with its focus squarely on 2026 and beyond. When these two teams meet on Saturday afternoon at the historic confines of Wrigley Field for the second game of their three-game series, it will be a true clash of two clubs on completely different timelines.

The Cubs’ Championship Chase

The Chicago Cubs are built to win now, and they are proving it every single day. Their 1-0 victory in Friday’s series opener was a perfect example of the versatility that manager Craig Counsell believes is necessary for a championship contender. After a season of winning with their potent offense, the Cubs won Friday’s game with pitching and defense in a lightning-quick contest that lasted just one hour and 49 minutes—tied for the fastest game of the MLB season.

“You have to be able to win all sorts of games to make the playoffs,” Counsell said. “The major league season is a great test, and there’s no sneaking in… I think 1-0 games, 12-10 games, it takes all kinds to get that win total up to a number that’s going to get into the playoffs, so you try to have a team that’s good at a lot of things.” The Cubs have certainly been good at a lot of things this season, as they continue to battle for the best record in the National League.

The Most Bizarre Revenge Game

The human element of baseball was on full display in Friday’s opener, and it was centered around Cubs reliever Andrew Kittredge. Just one day after being traded from the Orioles to the Cubs as part of Baltimore’s deadline sell-off, Kittredge was called upon to pitch the seventh inning against the very same hitters who had been his teammates 24 hours earlier. It was one of the most immediate and bizarre “revenge games” imaginable.

“It’s always a weird feeling,” Kittredge admitted. “Typically you get a little layover before you see them again. I got jumped right into it. The first guy I faced, (Adley) Rutschman, was the guy who caught my last outing. So, I feel like he knew exactly what I was going to throw, but thankfully, I was able to get through it.” Kittredge set down the side in order, a small but significant victory in a highly unusual situation. The emotional and psychological factors of these kinds of matchups are a fascinating part of the game, a topic often explored in our expert betting guide.

The Orioles’ Youth Movement

While the Cubs are focused on October, the Orioles are focused on the future. Their massive sell-off at the trade deadline was a clear signal that the remainder of the 2025 season will be about evaluation and development. The team will use the final two months to get a long look at their young players to see who will be a part of their next contending team. Despite being shut out on just three hits in Friday’s loss, interim manager Tony Mansolino saw positives in his team’s fight. “Just going to have to string some stuff together more so here in the next few days,” he said. “Tough day offensively, but we will bounce back (Saturday).”

The Pitching Matchup: A Tale of Rebounds

Saturday’s pitching matchup features two veterans who are both looking to get back on track after recent struggles. The Cubs will send out lefty Matthew Boyd (11-4, 2.47), who has been fantastic for most of the season but is coming off a rough outing against the Brewers where his 25-inning scoreless streak was snapped.

The Orioles will counter with 35-year-old “rookie” Tomoyuki Sugano (8-5, 4.38). The Japanese veteran has had an up-and-down season but is coming off his best start in nearly two months, a six-inning, one-run performance against the Rockies.

The scores and odds for this matchup will heavily favor the first-place Cubs. To see if our experts believe the Orioles can pull off the upset, check out our daily MLB picks.