Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Angels - August 24, 2025

The Chicago Cubs will beat the Los Angeles Angels. The Los Angeles Angels will cover the spread, and the total will go over.

I rate the Cubs as the rightful side. Their offense is more reliable, producing 5.0 runs on 8.5 hits with a 0.2 average, versus 4.4 runs on 7.7 hits and a 0.2 average for the Angels. The bigger edge sits on the run prevention side. The Cubs carry a 3.9 ERA against 4.8 for the Angels, which should tilt the sequencing of hits and run conversion in the Cubs’ favor over nine innings. That ERA gap suggests fewer crooked numbers allowed by the Cubs, and their marginally stronger contact profile should generate an extra scoring chance or two.

I still expect the Angels to keep this inside the number. They score 4.4 runs on average and put enough balls in play to punish mistakes, which makes a one-run decision the most likely outcome. Using team baselines, I project about 9.4 combined runs, a number that points to an over against typical totals in this range. The Angels’ 4.8 ERA elevates the run environment, and the Cubs’ 5.0 run profile adds pressure throughout the lineup. My most probable script is a tight game where the Cubs’ pitching depth wins late, something like 5 to 4, which fits Cubs on the moneyline, Angels on the run line, and the total clearing the posted number.