New York has scored just two unearned runs over its last 22 innings and now meets a Cubs staff led by Shota Imanaga, with Will Warren trying to halt a slide against a lefty-heavy lineup
The Yankees arrive at Wrigley Field needing a cleaner offensive showing than they have managed over the past few days. They have produced just two unearned runs in their last 22 innings and have gone 28 of their last 32 innings without scoring, a stretch that puts extra pressure on every plate appearance against a Cubs team that can create margin quickly.
Chicago has been one of the league's most productive lineups this season, ranking second in the majors with 5.17 runs per game and third with a 111 wRC+. That matters against a New York club that cannot afford to waste at-bats, especially with the Cubs also bringing a pitching staff that, while not elite, has been more than competent enough to punish passive offenses. According to reporting by a recent Dodgers update, a single star player can shape the scoring outlook of an entire matchup; this one has a similar feel, only with New York's lineup under the greater stress.
Will Warren gets the ball for the Yankees after one of his roughest outings of the season, when the Phillies tagged him for six runs on six hits in three innings. That was the fifth time this year he has allowed at least five runs, and four of those outings have come since June 20. Over his last eight starts, Warren has a 6.57 ERA, a sharp drop from the 3.22 ERA he carried across his first 12 starts. In 20 starts overall, he is 7-5 with a 4.41 ERA, a 4.16 FIP, and 102 strikeouts in 102 innings.
The problems have been consistent. Warren has had trouble retiring left-handed hitters, he has been less effective from the stretch, and his results worsen noticeably the third time through a batting order. That profile is awkward against a Cubs lineup that can load up on left-handed bats and is second in baseball with a .340 OBP. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads off, and the Cubs have several other productive hitters behind him, including Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, Michael Conforto, and Ian Happ. The defensive support behind them is also a factor, with Chicago's infield among the strongest in the game on paper.
On the other side, Shota Imanaga has given Chicago exactly the kind of stabilization it needed after an uneven 2025. The Cubs declined his three-year team option over the winter, then circled back on a qualifying offer for 2026, and the left-hander has responded with a rebound season. His fastball has ticked back up, and with it his chase and strikeout rates have moved closer to the level he showed as a rookie in 2024. Imanaga is not overpowering; he depends on sequencing and command, using the four-seamer to set up his splitter and sweeper. That can be enough when hitters are already pressing, and the Yankees are catching him after consecutive scoreless starts of at least six innings. Through 21 starts, he is 7-8 with a 3.72 ERA, a 4.39 FIP, and 113 strikeouts in 121 innings.
New York does have its usual platoon-oriented look against a lefty, but there are some notable changes. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is out after leaving yesterday's loss in the 11th inning with cramps, which opens the door for Spencer Jones to make a rare start against a left-hander in right field while José Caballero handles second base. Amed Rosario, Anthony Volpe, and Ali Sánchez will need to do more than just survive their matchups if the Yankees are going to avoid another quiet afternoon.
Chicago's own lineup construction tilts heavily toward the Yankees' weakest point. Warren will have to navigate a group that can create traffic with left-handed hitters and put pressure on a starter who has struggled to finish innings cleanly. If the Cubs force early counts and get Warren into leverage situations with runners aboard, New York could be chasing the game before the middle innings even arrive.
There is also the possibility that weather becomes part of the story. Forecasts for the North Side of Chicago are not fully settled, and a delay or worse would not be a surprise. If conditions deteriorate, a doubleheader later in the weekend remains in play, which could affect bullpen usage and lineup planning for both clubs.
First pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field. The game will air on YES and Marquee Sports Network, with radio coverage on WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280, 104.3 The Score, and WPPN 106.7 / TUDN. Streaming is available on the Gotham Sports App and MLB.tv for out-of-market viewers.
For the Yankees, the key issue is not just whether they score, but whether they can avoid giving away outs in a game where the opponent is better equipped to capitalize. A lineup with this much left-handed balance can shrink the margin for error against a starter who has struggled in predictable spots, and that is one reason platoon splits matter so much in baseball. Teams rarely need perfection to win, but they do need enough contact, on-base skill, and situational execution to keep a good opposing offense from turning a single bad inning into the difference.
