The Chicago Cubs are set to host the Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in a highly anticipated MLB matchup. Following the Cubs’ 4-1 victory in the series opener, which snapped Boston’s impressive 10-game winning streak, both teams are eager to assert their dominance. The game features a compelling pitching duel between Boston’s Brayan Bello and Chicago’s Shota Imanaga.
Game Overview
Saturday’s game, scheduled for 7:15 PM ET, pits the NL Central-leading Cubs (58-39) against the AL East’s third-place Red Sox (53-46). The Cubs hold a strong home record of 31-16, while the Red Sox have struggled on the road with a 21-26 record. The Cubs are favored with a moneyline of -149, while the Red Sox are at +125. The total runs line is set at 9, with the under slightly favored at -115.
Pitching Matchup
Boston Red Sox: Brayan Bello (RHP)
Season Record: 6-3
ERA: 3.14
Innings Pitched: 91.2
Key Stat: 3 or fewer runs allowed in 13 of 16 starts.
Chicago Cubs: Shota Imanaga (LHP)
Season Record: 6-3
ERA: 2.65
Innings Pitched: 68.0
Key Stat: Elite 0.93 WHIP and 16 walks issued all season.
Imanaga holds a slight edge due to his superior command and dominant home performance, boasting a 2.08 ERA at Wrigley Field.
Betting Insights and Trends
Cubs Betting Performance
69.7% win rate when favored (46-20).
27-7 when favored by at least -149.
6-4-0 against the spread in their last 10 games.
Red Sox Betting Performance
44.1% win rate as underdogs (15-19).
5-7 when favored by +125 or worse.
8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games.
Key Player Statistics
Chicago Cubs
Seiya Suzuki: 26 HR, 80 RBI
Pete Crow-Armstrong: 25 HR, 71 RBI
Kyle Tucker: 17 HR, .279 AVG
Boston Red Sox
Wilyer Abreu: 18 HR, 52 RBI
Trevor Story: 15 HR, 58 RBI
Ceddanne Rafaela: .316 AVG, 11 HR, 28 RBI since June 1.
Prediction
Given the strong pitching matchup and the wind blowing in at Wrigley Field, a lower-scoring game is anticipated. The Cubs, with their home advantage and Imanaga on the mound, are favored to win. The total runs are projected to be under 9, with a score prediction of Cubs 5, Red Sox 4.
Key Takeaways
The Cubs are favored to win, building on their Friday victory.
A pitching duel between Bello and Imanaga is expected to keep scoring low.
Wrigley Field’s wind conditions are likely to suppress offense.
The total runs are projected to be under 9.
Ceddanne Rafaela is a key offensive player for the Red Sox to watch.
The post Cubs vs. Red Sox Prediction July 19: Pitching Duel Set for Wrigley Showdown appeared first on UrbanMatter.
