On Sunday, the Boston Red Sox (53-46) face off against the Chicago Cubs (58-39) at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

Chicago comes into this matchup on a three-game winning streak and has won four of their last five games prior to their game against Boston on Saturday. In Friday's 4-1 victory over Boston, Seiya Suzuki played a key role for the Chicago Cubs, going 2-for-4 at the plate, launching a home run, scoring once, and driving in three runs. Suzuki has been a major power threat for the Cubs all year, currently leading the team with 26 home runs. Right behind him is Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has contributed 25 home runs this season, making him the team’s second-leading home run hitter. Suzuki also tops the team in runs batted in, collecting 80 RBIs so far and helping to anchor the Cubs’ offense through the first half of the season. On the other hand, Michael Busch boasts the highest batting average among regulars, hitting an impressive .287. Chicago has averaged 4.2 runs across their last five games. They currently hold a one-and-a-half-game lead over Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central division. With the team averaging 5.3 runs per game over the season, the Cubs’ offense has proven to be both potent and consistent, setting them up well as they aim to keep their momentum going into the second half of the year.

Boston enters this game on a one-game losing streak, but has won four of their last five games prior to their game against Chicago on Saturday. In their 4-1 defeat against the Chicago Cubs on Friday, Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito took the mound for 5.1 innings. During his outing, Giolito surrendered five hits and allowed four earned runs, while issuing two walks and recording six strikeouts. On the offensive side this season, Wilyer Abreu has powered the Red Sox lineup, leading the team with 18 home runs so far. Trevor Story has also been a key contributor, ranking second on the team with 15 homers. In addition, Story leads Boston in RBIs, having driven in 58 runs this year. Ceddanne Rafaela has established himself as Boston’s top contact hitter, as he currently tops the team’s batting average leaderboard with a .271 mark for the season. Over the Red Sox’s last five games, the offense has managed to score an average of just 3 runs per contest. Despite this offensive slump, the team clings to a narrow half-game lead over the Mariners for the final AL Wild Card spot. Prior to Friday’s loss to the Cubs, Boston wrapped up the first half of the season riding a strong wave of momentum thanks to a ten-game winning streak. As the second half gets underway, the Red Sox hope to recapture that winning form. For the season as a whole, Boston’s offense has averaged 5 runs per game.