Red Sox vs Cubs Picks and Prediction – 7/18/2025

The Friday MLB schedule will get underway with a matinee between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs from Wrigley Field. Be ready for the baseball season with all of our MLB predictions. The Red Sox (53-45) are riding a ten-game winning streak and trail AL East Division leading Toronto by three games. On Sunday, Boston OF Ceddanne Rafaela’s two-run blast sealed a 4-1 home victory versus Tampa Bay. 

Thirty-one year old righty Lucas Giolito (6-1 3.36 ERA) will make his 14th start of the year. The Red Sox have won Giolito’s previous three outings and he has allowed just two runs (1 ER) across his last 20 plus frames.

The Chicago Cubs have won 30 of their first 46 home games and are clinging to a one-game lead over Milwaukee for NL Central Division supremacy. Last time out, SP Shota Imanaga (6-3) allowed one run and lasted seven innings to lead Chicago to a 4-1 road victory against the New York Yankees. Michael Busch led off the game with a home run and Dansby Swanson added a two-run shot for the Cubs (57-39).

The Cubs will counter with thirty-five year old righty Colin Rea (7-3 3.91 ERA) in the series opener. Chicago has been victorious in Rea’s last three starts and have provided him with a whopping 31 runs of support. 

Boston SP Hunter Dobbins suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and will miss the remainder of the season. Through 98 games, Boston ranks 5th in OPS and 5th in runs scored. For the season, Chicago ranks 4th in OPS and 2nd in runs scored. Take the Red Sox to win on the road. Final Score Prediction, Boston Red Sox win 5-3.