Cubs vs Yankees Betting Preview: Rodon Set to Make His Season Debut

Yankees Look To Bounce Back From Blowout Home Loss Heading into Series With Cubs

July 7, 2023 102 4 minutes readMLB Picks & Parlays

Cubs vs Yankees Betting Preview: Rodon Set to Make His Season Debut — AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES

Former Yankee Pitch Taillon Set to Start Season Opener for Chicago Cubs
Never a Dull Moment
Rotation Taking Shape
Cubs vs Yankees Injury Update
Cubs vs Yankees Betting Preview

Former Yankee Pitch Taillon Set to Start Season Opener for Chicago Cubs

A familiar face will be returning to Yankee Stadium with former Yankees pitcher Jameson Taillon set to start the series opener for the visiting Chicago Cubs. The Yankees might be coming off a 14-1 loss to Baltimore, but the Cubs vs Yankees betting preview listed New York as the favorite.

Speaking of pitching, the Yankees welcome Carlos Rodon to the mound for his first start with the team after being signed in the offseason. Rodon has been sidelined since suffering a forearm injury in spring training.

New York is 27-21 in the baseball games played at home this season, with the Cubs 19-24 on the road.

The Yankees have won seven straight games against the Cubs. New York outscored Chicago 28-5 in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium in 2022. The last time the Cubs defeated the Yankees was in 2014.

The Yankees are sixth at +1500 in the odds to win the World Series. The Cubs are well back at +10000 in the championship odds

Cubs vs Yankees

Day/Time: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET; Saturday, 1:05 p.m. ET; Sunday, 1:35 p.m. ET
Location: Yankee Stadium, New York, NY
Broadcasts: Marquee Sports Network, YES, MLB Network

Probable Starting Pitchers

Friday: Jameson Taillon (Cubs); Carlos Rodon (Yankees)
Saturday: Drew Smyly (Cubs); Gerrit Cole (Yankees)
Sunday: Kyle Hendricks (Cubs); Domingo German (Yankees)

Never a Dull Moment

Recent Cubs games have not been boring with each of the last five games being decided by either one or two runs.

It started with the Cubs rallied from a six-run deficit before falling in 10 innings to Cleveland before squandering a six-run lead against Milwaukee.

Ian Happ threw out two runners at the plate in extra innings the next time out to set up Nico Hoerner’s game-winning single, and then a three-run ninth inning gave Chicago a second straight one-run win before the Milwaukee series ended with the Brewers getting a late home run to earn a split of the four-game series.

The Cubs are now 9-12 in one-run games this season, which is something to remember when looking at the Cubs vs Yankees betting preview.

The total has gone over in four of the last five games played by the Cubs.

Rotation Taking Shape

Yankee fans were pretty fired up when signing Rodon after he posted a 27-13 record in the previous two seasons. Visions of a weekend series featuring Rodon, Gerrit Cole, and Domingo German getting the starts for the Yankees brought an understandable sense of optimism.

It has taken more than half the season for it to actually happen, as Rodon will make his season debut. That is one reason why the Cubs vs Yankees betting preview favors the Yankees.

The Yankees could get fellow starting pitchers Frankie Montas and Nestor Cortes back sometime in July.

Rodon made three starts in the minor leagues, and he allowed just three hits and one run in 10.2 innings with 17 strikeouts.

Six of the Yankees’ last nine games went over the total.

Who’s Hot

Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs OF: Bellinger is batting .467 with eight runs, four extra-base hits, and three RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak.
Tommy Kahnle, New York Yankees P: Kahnle hasn’t allowed a run in 13.2 innings in his 14 appearances this season. He has given up just five hits and struck out 16.
DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees IF: LaMahieu is 1-for-15 with three strikeouts in his last five games.
Michael Fulmer, Chicago Cubs P: Fulmer has surrendered four hits and one run in 9.2 innings in his seven appearances.

Who’s Not

Albert Abreu, New York Yankees P: Abreu surrendered 12 hits and 11 hits in 7.2 innings during his last eight outings.
Jameson Taillon, Chicago Cubs P: Taillon is 0-2 with an ERA of 7.63 over his last three starts, and he has allowed eight home runs in his previous five outings.
Mike Tauschman, Chicago Cubs OF: Tauschman is 1-for-13 with four strikeouts in his last four games.
Jose Trevino, New York Yankees C: Trevino is batting .176 over his last seven games. Two of his three hits have gone for extra bases.

Cubs vs Yankees Injury Update

Shortstop Dansby Swanson missed the last game for the Cubs with a heel injury, and he is questionable for Friday’s series opener. Pitchers Brad Boxberger and Nick Burdi are expected to return sometime in July.

For the Yankees, outfielder Jake Bauers is questionable with a shoulder issue. Outfielders Greg Allen, Aaron Judge, and Willie Calhoun are already sidelined.