San Francisco Giants @ Chicago Cubs - May 5, 2025

As a retired coach with years of experience studying the ins and outs of baseball, I can tell you that when the San Francisco Giants meet the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, it’s bound to be an intriguing matchup. Both teams are vying for crucial wins in this competitive stretch of the season.

The Giants come into this game with a record of 22-13, riding a three-game winning streak after their recent triumph over the Rockies. Their offensive production has been solid in that outing, scoring nine runs, which is quite an improvement compared to their average of approximately 4.5 runs per game. However, they’ve struggled on the road recently and will need to shake off their 0-5 ATS (Against The Spread) record in away games if they want to keep up momentum.

On the mound for San Francisco is Roupp, whose ERA sits at 3.5—a commendable figure but slightly higher than his strikeout rate suggests he can be more effective. His ability to miss bats (8.7 strikeouts per nine innings) indicates potential; however, consistency has been elusive for him this season. In pressure situations against an offense like Chicago’s—averaging nearly 6.4 runs per game—the stakes are high.

The Cubs enter this contest with a respectable record of 21-14 and boast solid offensive metrics as well: batting .261 with an impressive slugging percentage that showcases their ability to get on base and drive runs in (around 6.3 RBIs per game). Boyd’s pitching stats reflect his capability too—though he has a modest win-loss record of 2-2, his ERA is significantly lower at around 2.7 which shows he keeps opposing hitters at bay effectively.

Boyd’s performances suggest he can handle pressure situations well—having shown resilience even after tough outings like last game’s loss against the Brewers where they were shut out completely (4-0). Coming back home should provide them some comfort; however, they’ve faced challenges in past home games with only a few wins covering spreads.

Looking ahead to Monday night’s contest, I anticipate that we’ll see a strategic battle unfold between these two clubs both seeking better outcomes from previous games. Given how both teams have produced offensively lately along with Roupp’s fluctuating performance on the road versus Boyd’s consistent pitching prowess at home—I would lean towards predicting a victory for Chicago here.

Additionally, considering how both pitchers may stifle offenses tonight and given recent trends leaning toward under totals—you might find it worthwhile betting on this matchup staying below the projected total score of seven-and-a-half runs.

In essence: expect grit from both sides—but ultimately look for Boyd’s edge on the mound combined with home-field advantage leading Chicago to a hard-fought victory while keeping scores low throughout the evening!