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San Francisco Giants vs Chicago Cubs August 28th 2025
The Chicago Cubs will take on the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. The Cubs, with a record of 76-57, are second in the NL Central. They are coming off a two-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Giants hold a 65-68 record and are third in the NL West. They have won their last four games.
This game will feature Shota Imanaga on the mound for the Cubs. He has an ERA of 3.03 and a WHIP of 0.94. The Giants will counter with Logan Webb, who has an ERA of 3.13 and a WHIP of 1.22. The weather forecast for the game is a mild day with a clear sky.
Cubs vs Giants Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Chicago Cubs vs. San Francisco Giants
- Venue: Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA
- Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
- Betting Odds: Cubs Moneyline -101, Giants Moneyline -117, Cubs Runline +1.5 (-218), Giants Runline -1.5 (+183), Total Over 7.0 (-120), Total Under 7.0 (-101)
The Cubs Can Win If…
The Chicago Cubs recently faced the San Francisco Giants and lost 12-3. Nico Hoerner stood out with a home run and three RBIs. Pete Crow-Armstrong also contributed with a hit and a run.
The Cubs have a solid hitting lineup, ranking 6th in slugging percentage at .425. They are 7th in both batting average and home runs, showing their ability to score. Their speed on the bases is notable too, with 134 stolen bases, ranking them 3rd.
Shota Imanaga will start for the Cubs, bringing a strong ERA of 3.03 and a WHIP of 0.94. His consistent performance on the mound gives the Cubs a good chance. With key players like Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch in the lineup, the Cubs have the power to win this game.
The Giants Can Win If…
The San Francisco Giants are coming off a strong win against the Chicago Cubs, finishing 12-3. Rafael Devers was a standout with a perfect 4-for-4, including two home runs and five RBIs. Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman also contributed with home runs, adding to the team’s powerful performance.
The Giants have shown they can win with their impressive pitching and hitting stats. Their pitching staff ranks 6th in earned run average at 3.73 and has given up the fewest home runs in the league. On offense, they have hit 134 home runs this season, ranking 17th, which shows their ability to score runs quickly.
Logan Webb will start for the Giants, bringing a 3.13 ERA and a 12-9 record. His consistency on the mound gives the Giants a good chance to keep the Cubs’ bats in check. With key players like Devers and Chapman in form, the Giants have a strong lineup ready to support Webb’s efforts.
The Lean
The Giants are slightly favored with a moneyline of -117. The Cubs are at -101. The Giants have a better team ERA at 3.73, ranking 6th, compared to the Cubs’ 3.84, ranking 8th. My model projects the Giants to win with a score of 4-3. The recommendation is to pick the Giants to win straight up.
The total for the game is set at 7.0, with the over at -120 and the under at -101. Both teams have strong pitching, with the Giants having the edge in home runs given up, ranking 1st. My model projects a total score of 7. The recommendation is to take the under, considering the strong pitching stats.
Stay Ahead of the Diamond
MLB Data & Insights
Cubs Eager to Avert Three-Game Sweep in San Francisco
The Chicago Cubs entered the week riding a three-game road sweep of the Angels and eyeing a push toward the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Instead, two losses in San Francisco have widened the division gap to 6.5 games.
Chicago now sits just 1.5 games ahead of the Padres for the final NL wild card, making Thursday’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants a critical spot.
Manager Craig Counsell acknowledged that decisions are being made with October in mind, pointing to the cautious approach with starter Jameson Taillon, who landed on the injured list with a groin strain.
“In a different situation, maybe we push this,” Counsell said. “I don’t think this is the right time to push it.”
Giants surging behind Devers
San Francisco, meanwhile, is quietly heating up. Winners of four straight, the Giants have leapfrogged the Diamondbacks for third in the NL West. They remain seven games out of a wild-card spot, but the energy has shifted thanks to Rafael Devers.
After an RBI single Tuesday, Devers exploded Wednesday with four hits, including two homers, and five RBIs in a 12-3 win. Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman added sparks, but teammates made it clear:
“We’re all getting on base for Raffy,” Ramos said postgame. “Raffy is the guy right here. You always want him at the plate.”
Giants’ recent hot bats
| Player | HR | RBIs | Hits (Last 2 Games) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Devers | 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Heliot Ramos | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Matt Chapman | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Pitching matchup: Imanaga vs. Webb
Chicago will turn to left-hander Shota Imanaga (8-6, 3.03 ERA). Despite a strong August (2.33 ERA in four starts), he’s gone winless due to poor run support.
Imanaga has faced the Giants once before, allowing three runs in a no-decision last June. His previous encounter with Devers came earlier this season when Devers went 1-for-3 with a single and two strikeouts.
San Francisco counters with ace right-hander Logan Webb (12-9, 3.13 ERA). Webb has been dominant lately, giving up just one run in 13 innings across wins over Tampa Bay and Milwaukee.
Probable starters
| Pitcher | Record | ERA | Recent Form | Career vs Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shota Imanaga (CHC) | 8-6 | 3.03 | 2.33 ERA in August | 0-0, 4.50 ERA (1 start) vs SF |
| Logan Webb (SF) | 12-9 | 3.13 | 1 ER in last 13 IP | 2-1, 4.05 ERA (4 starts) vs CHC |
Keys to the finale
Cubs
- Back Imanaga with run support.
- Avoid defensive miscues that extended rallies in the first two games.
- Slow down Devers, who has carried the Giants.
Giants
- Keep Webb dominant against a pressing Cubs lineup.
- Ride Devers’ hot streak to generate early offense.
- Extend their win streak to stay in wild-card contention.
Prediction outlook
The Cubs have more at stake, but the Giants have momentum. If Webb continues his recent dominance, San Francisco could secure the sweep. For Chicago, it’s about breaking through against a hot pitcher and stopping a dangerous slugger in Devers.
Conclusion
The Cubs entered the Bay Area with playoff momentum, but the Giants have flipped the narrative. Thursday’s finale features a marquee pitching matchup between Shota Imanaga and Logan Webb, with Rafael Devers looming as the X-factor.
For both teams, it’s about direction — the Cubs trying to protect their wild-card edge, and the Giants clinging to postseason hope.
