The Cubs are set for a weekend reunion with Kyle Hendricks, though he won’t pitch in the series. Hendricks was teammates with a large portion of this Cubs roster last year, but only 10 players on the current 26-man active roster share that history: Ben Brown, Michael Busch, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Shōta Imanaga, Daniel Palencia, Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, and Jameson Taillon.
On the other side, the Angels arrive with a rebuilding mood and a promising young core. Zach Neto at shortstop, Nolan Schanuel at first base, and Jo Adell in the outfield lead the way, with Logan O’Hoppe showing flashes behind the plate. Taylor Ward is enjoying a career year, and a healthy Mike Trout sits in the middle of the lineup. Yet the Angels still struggle with organizational depth, and the team leads MLB in strikeouts while sitting near the bottom in batting average and on-base percentage. They do, however, rank high in home runs, though too many come as solo shots as baserunners often strand themselves. Yusei Kikuchi has been their best starter this season, while Jose Soriano has had mixed results and Kenley Jansen anchors the bullpen, though the bridge to him can be inconsistent. The Angels tend to play to the level of their competition, and despite a sub-.500 overall record, they’ve shown punch by beating strong teams earlier in the year.
Historically, the Cubs have faced the Angels relatively infrequently, but they’ve held a winning record overall at 13-10 against the Angels and are 5-5 in California. In prior trips, the Cubs have had a mix of outcomes, including wins in some 2004 and 2013 visits and a split in 2016, before dropping a three-game set on a June weekend in 2023.
Probable pitching matchups (tentative)
– Friday: Ben Brown (RHP) for the Cubs vs. Tyler Anderson (LHP) for the Angels
– Saturday: Cade Horton (RHP) for the Cubs vs. Jose Soriano (RHP) for the Angels
– Sunday: Matthew Boyd (LHP) for the Cubs vs. Victor Mederos (RHP) for the Angels
Note: These listings were not officially confirmed at posting time, and some rosters may still be adjusted.
Times and TV
– Friday: 8:38 p.m. CT on Marquee Sports Network
– Saturday: 8:38 p.m. CT on Marquee Sports Network
– Sunday: 3:07 p.m. CT on Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
The Cubs have the edge in at least two of the three potential starting matchups and are favored to win two of the three games, though the Angels’ ability to elevate their play against strong teams means Chicago cannot take anything for granted.
Up next
After this series, the Cubs have Monday off before traveling to San Francisco for a three-game set with the Giants starting Tuesday night.
What to watch
– How the Cubs’ familiar faces from last year contribute alongside the newer, younger additions.
– Whether the Cubs’ starting pitching can exploit the Angels’ higher strikeout totals and lower on-base percentage.
– The Angels’ speed and power up and down the lineup, and how they handle strong Cubs pitching if they can string together hits and drives with runners on.
Summary
A weekend reunion adds an extra layer of storyline to a matchup that could hinge on which team leverages its strengths: Cubs’ depth and starting depth versus Angels’ young core and power. If Chicago can take advantage of two of the three games, they’ll keep momentum heading into a trip to the Bay Area.