Orioles vs Cubs predictions
There’s plenty of young talent to keep an eye on from the Baltimore Orioles as they roll into Wrigley for game two. Gunnar Henderson looks to continue his impressive season, and I think we’ll see him collect a hit or two and possibly drive in a run—his all-field contact and sneaky pop have made him a tough out lately. Tyler O’Neill’s bat has also shown signs of heating up, so don’t be surprised if he snags an extra-base hit and some RBI opportunities. Adley Rutschman, always a steady force, should help keep the offense moving and might get on base a couple of times with his knack for working counts. But the real storyline is Tomoyuki Sugano on the mound, who faces a big test against a deep Cubs lineup; if he can keep the walks down and work through five strong innings, it could be a solid outing, but he’ll have to be sharp.
For the Chicago Cubs, the home field advantage at Wrigley always seems to elevate their bats, and this matchup feels tailor-made for a few breakout performances. Pete Crow-Armstrong has been locked in lately, and I’m expecting him to use his speed and power to cause headaches for the Baltimore infield and outfield—think a couple of hits, maybe even an RBI knock. Nico Hoerner keeps finding ways to get on base and make things happen; I see him tallying at least a hit and possibly swiping a bag if the opportunity is there. And Seiya Suzuki, with his ability to drive in runs, could be set up for a high-impact night, especially with runners on. Matthew Boyd gets the ball for Chicago, and if his slider is working, he should rack up strikeouts and limit hard contact over about six innings.
At the end of the day, these two teams are trending in very different directions, and Chicago’s combination of power, contact hitting, and aggressive baserunning really stand out this season. The Cubs just look like the more complete club right now, especially with their potent lineup stacked with hitters who love the spotlight at Wrigley. While the Orioles have a few hot bats and the upside to make some noise, I’m backing the Chicago Cubs to take this one, keep the momentum rolling, and stretch their series lead. What do you think—does Baltimore have an upset in them, or will the Cubs keep cruising at home?
