Chicago Cubs vs Boston Red Sox Picks and Prediction for Saturday, September 26, 2026
The Chicago Cubs visit the Boston Red Sox on Saturday at Fenway Park, with the opening pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM ET on MLB.TV. Chicago is 88-71, second in the NL Central, 12 games behind Milwaukee, and has clinched an NL Wild Card berth. The Cubs are 5-5 over their last 10 games after beating Miami 2-1 on Thursday. Boston is 85-74, third in the AL East, 11 games behind Tampa Bay, and has also clinched an AL Wild Card berth. The Red Sox are 4-6 over their last 10 after a 1-0 loss to Cleveland. Get ready for Saturday’s matchup with our free MLB picks.
Chicago Cubs Preview
Chicago is batting .251 with a .339 on-base percentage and .429 slugging percentage while scoring 841 runs and hitting 218 home runs. Pete Crow-Armstrong has powered the offense with a .280 average, 45 home runs, 107 RBI and 40 stolen bases. Seiya Suzuki is batting .270 with 26 homers and 86 RBI, while Alex Bregman has 26 home runs and 89 RBI. Michael Busch and Ian Happ have added 20 and 24 homers, giving Chicago several threats throughout the lineup.
The Cubs have a 4.17 ERA and 1.26 WHIP while holding opponents to a .244 batting average. Chicago has allowed 230 home runs but has issued only 485 walks while recording 1,236 strikeouts. The defense has been a major strength, leading MLB with a .990 fielding percentage and only 59 errors. Chicago has allowed three runs or fewer in four of its last five games, including one run in Thursday’s win over Miami.
Injuries: RP Gavin Hollowell is on the 15-day IL. RP Phil Maton, RP Hunter Harvey and 1B Tyler Austin are on the 60-day IL. 3B Alex Bregman is day-to-day.
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Boston Red Sox Preview
Boston is batting .246 with a .319 on-base percentage and .399 slugging percentage while scoring 681 runs with 162 home runs. Willson Contreras leads the Red Sox with 27 home runs and 81 RBI while batting .276 with a .387 on-base percentage. Ceddanne Rafaela is batting .282 with 16 homers and 70 RBI, while Wilyer Abreu has 24 home runs and 74 RBI. Jarren Duran has added 20 homers and 21 stolen bases.
The Red Sox have been much stronger on the mound, carrying a 3.55 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while opponents are batting .241. Boston has recorded 1,378 strikeouts and allowed 150 home runs, both better than Chicago’s totals. The defense owns a .986 fielding percentage with 80 errors. Boston has allowed just 12 runs across its last five games, including consecutive one-run performances against Cleveland on Wednesday and Thursday.
Injuries: SP Tanner Houck, SP Johan Oviedo and RP Zack Kelly are on the 60-day IL. 2B Anthony Seigler and DH Masataka Yoshida are on the 10-day IL.
Pitching Matchup
Chicago Cubs - Matthew Boyd
Boyd is 10-5 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 126.2 innings. The left-hander has allowed 114 hits and 15 home runs while recording 96 strikeouts and 39 walks.
Boston Red Sox - Undecided
Boston has not announced its starting pitcher for Saturday’s matchup.
Chicago Cubs vs Boston Red Sox Prediction
Chicago has the stronger offense, scoring 160 more runs and hitting 56 more home runs than Boston, but the Red Sox have a clear advantage in overall pitching with a 3.55 ERA compared with Chicago’s 4.17. Boyd gives the Cubs a steady starter, and Chicago’s defense has committed 21 fewer errors. Boston has struggled to score recently, producing only five runs across its last five games. Chicago’s deeper lineup will create enough chances to win a close game at Fenway Park. Final Score Prediction: Chicago Cubs win, 4-3.
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