Minnesota Twins vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction for Sunday, July 19, 2026
Use Code SSWC The Minnesota Twins visit the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET, with MLB.TV providing the coverage. Minnesota enters Sunday with a 49-49 overall record and a 23-24 road mark, while Chicago is 54-43 overall and 27-20 at home. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Before making your selections for Sunday’s baseball slate, be sure to check out our free MLB picks.
Starting Pitchers for Minnesota and Chicago
Zebby Matthews is scheduled to start for Minnesota against Chicago starter Shota Imanaga. Matthews enters with a 4-6 record, a 4.57 ERA, and a 1.22 WHIP through 67 innings. He has allowed 64 hits and 14 home runs while recording 54 strikeouts against 18 walks. Imanaga owns a 5-8 record with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP across 108 innings. He has surrendered 94 hits and 22 home runs while producing 105 strikeouts and issuing 27 walks. Chicago’s probable starter holds the lower ERA and WHIP while having worked 41 more innings.
Minnesota Carries a Three-Game Winning Streak
The Twins enter Sunday with an even 49-49 overall record and a 23-24 record away from home. Minnesota has won three consecutive games and three of its last five, including a recent 5-2 victory over Chicago. The Twins also recently defeated Los Angeles by scores of 4-2 and 5-3. Their two losses during the five-game stretch were a narrow 4-3 result against Los Angeles and a 5-2 defeat against Cleveland. Minnesota has scored between two and five runs in each of those contests.
Minnesota is batting .248 with 818 hits, 476 runs, and 121 home runs. The Twins have compiled a .322 on-base percentage and a .414 slugging percentage. Their pitching staff owns a 4.60 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP while allowing opponents to bat .251. Minnesota pitchers have issued 353 walks and recorded 813 strikeouts. The Twins are 21-22 in day games.
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Minnesota’s primary strength is its power and extra-base production. The Twins have hit 121 home runs and own a .414 slugging percentage, which is five points higher than Chicago’s mark. Minnesota also holds advantages in batting average, hits, and strikeouts recorded. The major concern is pitching, as the Twins have the higher team ERA, WHIP, and opposing batting average in this matchup.
Chicago Looks to Respond at Wrigley Field
The Cubs bring a 54-43 overall record and a 27-20 home mark into Sunday’s game. Chicago has won two of its last five contests, recently earning 8-4 and 5-3 victories over Cincinnati. The Cubs also recently lost 4-0 to Cincinnati and 3-2 to Baltimore before falling 5-2 against Minnesota. Three of Chicago’s last five games have been decided by three runs, while another was decided by one.
Chicago is batting .243 with 804 hits, 486 runs, and 121 home runs. The Cubs have registered a .336 on-base percentage and a .409 slugging percentage. Their pitching staff has produced a 4.33 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP while allowing opponents to hit .246. Chicago pitchers have issued 299 walks and accumulated 758 strikeouts. The Cubs own a 21-19 record in day games.
Chicago’s clearest statistical strength is its ability to reach base while limiting walks from its pitching staff. The Cubs have a .336 on-base percentage, which is 14 points higher than Minnesota’s figure, and their pitchers have issued 54 fewer walks. Chicago also owns the lower team ERA and WHIP. Those advantages have contributed to the Cubs holding the better overall, home, and day-game records.
Minnesota Twins vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction
Minnesota Twins vs Chicago Cubs Pick
- Pick: Chicago Cubs Moneyline
I am taking Chicago on the moneyline because the Cubs hold the better overall record, the stronger home mark, and the more favorable team pitching numbers. Chicago’s probable starter also owns the lower ERA and WHIP and has worked significantly more innings. Minnesota won the recent meeting and enters on a three-game winning streak, but the Cubs have the better on-base percentage, team ERA, WHIP, and day-game record. Those advantages give Chicago a chance to answer at home.
Minnesota Twins vs Chicago Cubs Total Pick
- Pick: Over 8.5
Take the over if the total is set at 8.5. I am leaning over because the teams have combined for 962 runs and 242 home runs this season. Their pitching staffs enter with ERAs of 4.60 and 4.33, while the probable starters carry ERAs of 4.57 and 4.17. Minnesota has scored at least four runs in four consecutive games, and Chicago has reached five or more runs in two of its last four. Those numbers provide enough offensive potential for the matchup to reach nine runs.
Final Score Prediction: Chicago Cubs 5 – Minnesota Twins 4
This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Saturday.
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