The Yankees are coming off consecutive losses to the Rangers and head to Chicago looking to reclaim first place in the American League East.
After losing three straight series outside of the playoffs, it will be tough to contain the Orioles, who are No. 1 in slugging percentage.
Through those nine games, the Yankees' relief pitchers have been dismal, allowing 1.84 home runs per nine innings and posting a 7.36 ERA.
During that exact span, the Cubs lead the sport in wins per game with 3.9.
Chicago has played six straight games in its last nine games before hosting the Yankees in interleague action on Friday.
The Cubs are struggling against the current tide of the National League wild-card race, trailing 4.5 games behind the cutoff despite being four games above .500.
They have long odds of +1700 to make the postseason on DraftKings, making them a team worth rooting for as underdogs throughout September.
Left-hander Jordan Wicks impressed on Sunday in his first game back from two-and-a-half months of rehabilitation following an oblique injury.
He pitched five innings of solid control and the offense dominated Washington, scoring 14 runs.
The young pitcher has thrived in the starting rotation and has given no reason to doubt him so far, especially against a shaky Yankees pitching staff.
Wicks isn't great at striking out batters and doesn't throw with eye-popping velocity, but he is one of the best at baiting hitters into chasing pitches outside the zone (34.6 chase rate) and thus weakening contact.
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Luis Gil will return from injured reserve and help a starting lineup that has fallen apart from its spring dominance.
Gill himself suffered a back strain that slowed his strong strikeout rate, and he posted a disappointing 9.00 ERA in his final two starts.
Even if Gill is at his best in 2024, I would still favor a weak Bombers relief corps against the hungry Cubs, who boasted the second-highest on-base percentage (.345) last month.
theater: Cubs Money Line (+122, Caesars)
