The stage is set for an exciting baseball encounter as the New York Yankees take on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 8, 2024, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:20 PM under partly cloudy skies. Gerrit Cole, with an impressive 3.652 ERA, will take the mound for the Yankees. His counterpart, Jameson Taillon of the Cubs, nearly matches him with an ERA of 3.656.\n\nThe Yankees currently lead the AL East Division with a strong record of 82-60, showcasing a solid .580 winning percentage. They have managed 22 wins against 23 losses within their division. Despite their dominance, they are 1-1 in recent performance, tallying four wins in their last 10 games, while riding a two-game winning streak. With their performance on the road being notably better than at home, they have amassed 45 wins away from their home turf as opposed to 37 at home.\n\nOn the other side, the Chicago Cubs are positioned ninth in the NL Central Division, holding a record of 72-70 and a .510 winning percentage. They have struggled within their division with 21 wins and 28 losses. Recently, the Cubs have fared slightly better with a record of 6-4 in their last 10 games, although they are currently on a two-game losing streak. Their performance at home (37-33) mirrors their moderate success on the road (35-37).\n\nAs for the betting odds, they reflect the tight contention between the two teams. The point spread is set at 1.5, favoring the Yankees, with the over/under for total runs scored by both teams combined at 9.0. Betting on the Yankees to win offers a money line of -160, indicating their favoritism, whereas a Cubs victory stands at +136, showing a slight underdog status in their home setting. These figures suggest a closely contested matchup, with potentially lean margins dictating the final outcome.