Yankees vs. Cubs: July 2025 Series Recap and 2026 Wrigley Matchup

Introduction

Matchups between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs consistently draw strong interest from baseball fans, even though the teams play in different leagues—the Yankees in the American League and the Cubs in the National League. In July 2025, they played a three-game series at Yankee Stadium that featured several memorable moments, most notably Cody Bellinger's outstanding performance against his former team. Below is a complete recap of the series results, standout players, notable statistics, and what is currently known about the teams' next meeting in 2026.

July 2025 Series Results: Game by Game

Game 1 – July 11, 2025: Yankees 11, Cubs 0

The Yankees earned a dominant victory after entering the game on a six-game losing streak. The standout performer was Cody Bellinger, who hit three home runs in a single game—a career high—while driving in six runs and going 5-for-5 at the plate. On the mound, Carlos Rodón delivered an outstanding performance, pitching eight innings with eight strikeouts while allowing just one walk and one run.

One memorable moment came when Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker robbed Bellinger of what would have been a fourth home run with an outstanding catch. Bellinger later said he was a little disappointed that the perfectly timed defensive play denied him another homer.

Game 2 – July 12, 2025: Cubs 5, Yankees 2

The Cubs responded with a 5-2 victory in Game 2. Pitcher Matthew Boyd was outstanding, throwing eight scoreless innings with six strikeouts. For the Yankees, Aaron Judge continued his remarkable season by hitting his 350th career home run, becoming the fastest player in league history to reach that milestone.

Game 3 – July 13, 2025: Cubs 4, Yankees 1

The Cubs clinched the series by winning the finale. Shota Imanaga led the way with seven strong innings and six strikeouts. Offensively, Michael Busch opened the scoring with a first-inning home run, while Dansby Swanson added a two-run homer in the sixth inning. The Yankees managed only two hits all game, highlighting the Cubs' dominant pitching performance.

With the victory, the Cubs secured the series by winning two of the three games and entered the All-Star break with their best record since 2008.

Cody Bellinger's Story: From the Cubs to the Yankees

Cody Bellinger's performance on July 11 carried extra significance because he played for the Cubs during the 2023 and 2024 seasons before being traded to the Yankees in December 2024. When asked about his performance against his former club, Bellinger rejected the idea that it was motivated by revenge, saying, "There was no revenge. Honestly, it was just fun to be out there." He added that he could have had the same kind of game against any team and would have enjoyed it just as much.

One of the night's memorable moments came when a fan caught Bellinger's third home run before Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA) could reach it. After the game, Bellinger sought out the fan to thank him while also praising PCA's defensive ability and describing him as "an exceptional athlete."

2026 Matchup: A New Meeting at Wrigley Field

The two teams are scheduled to meet again on July 31, 2026, this time at the Cubs' historic Wrigley Field in Chicago, with first pitch set for 2:20 p.m. ET. Before the game, the clubs had nearly identical records: the Cubs were 62-47, including 30-22 at home, while the Yankees were 61-48, including 35-25 on the road. At the time, both teams were competing for a Wild Card spot.

Will Warren was expected to start for the Yankees, entering with a 7-5 record and a 4.41 ERA. The Cubs were expected to counter with Shota Imanaga, who owned a 7-8 record and a 3.72 ERA. Imanaga was also the pitcher who led Chicago to victory in the decisive game of the 2025 series.

This will mark the third series between the teams at Wrigley Field, following their 2003 series, which remains the only time the Cubs have won a home series against the Yankees.

As for the result of this specific game, no confirmed final score or box score details were available in the available sources at the time this report was prepared. Some sources indicated that the information was "currently unavailable."

Historical Context: Who Holds the Edge?

Looking at the overall history between the two franchises, the Yankees have a clear advantage. They have won 27 of the 36 all-time meetings between the clubs, including postseason games, with a .750 winning percentage.

The teams have met only twice in the World Series, and the Yankees swept both matchups 4-0:

• 1932: The Yankees won the World Series 4-0.
• 1938: The Yankees won the World Series 4-0.

That long-standing historical advantage makes the Cubs' 2-1 series victory in July 2025 especially notable, particularly because it came during one of the Cubs' strongest seasons in years.