Cubs vs. Giants Prediction and Odds for Thursday, July 28 (Back Chicago as an Underdog)

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras
Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras / David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
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The Cubs head out on a seven-game road trip following a quick two-game sweep of the Pirates at Wrigley. First stop is San Francisco where they face the 48-50 Giants, who have recently fallen below .500 and are on a seven-game losing streak. 

Willson Contreras said his good-byes to Cubs fans yesterday in what was almost certainly his final game as a Cub at Wrigley Field. It seems the Cubs are making the most of the time they have left with Contreras, having won six straight.

The Cubs now sit at 40-57, with lefty Justin Steele on the mound tonight at Oracle Park. The Giants turn to Alex Wood to stop the bleeding. So who wins? Let's start with odds from WynnBET Sportsbook. 

Cubs vs. Giants Odds, Run Line and Total

Run Line

  • Cubs +1.5 (-175)
  • Giants -1.5 (+145)

Moneyline

  • Cubs +125
  • Giants -135

Total

  • 8.0 (Over -110 / Under -110)

Cubs vs. Giants Prediction and Pick

The Chicago Cubs have yet to lose a game following the All-Star break, which began with a 15-2 rout of the Phillies and continued with a two-game sweep of Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field. They are simply winning games and San Francisco is simply not. 

The Giants have yet to win a game since the hiatus. San Francisco is returning home after a seven-game road trip which saw it get swept by two NL West Rivals, LA and Arizona. 

Alex Wood’s last start was against the Dodgers and he allowed two runs over four innings and needed 97 pitches to get those twelve outs. Wood is 6-8 on the season with a 4.21 ERA, but a fielding independent pitching of 3.33. Essentially he is a slightly above average pitcher with an expected ERA that ranks in the 59th percentile. 

Justin Steele is not much different, ranking in the 56th percentile of xERA, but what Steele has excelled at is not getting hit hard. He has an expected slugging in the 75th percentile, and is in the 93rd percentile of barrel rate. 

That could be enough to neutralize the San Francisco offense that is heavily home run reliant. 

Bottomline, the Cubs are hot right now, and the Giants are anything but. 

Pick: Cubs +125

Follow all Josh’s picks HERE