August 22, 2025

Game Preview

Written by: Michael Rivera

Michael is a data-driven baseball enthusiast who specializes in pitch analytics and betting trends.

Cubs vs Angels: Betting Preview & Props (Aug 22)

Last updated: August 22, 2025

Game Time: 8/22, 09:38PM

Game Overview

Tonight, the Chicago Cubs face off against the Los Angeles Angels in a compelling matchup. The Cubs are entering as favorites, with DraftKings setting the line at -150, while the Angels are tagged as +123 underdogs. A significant 84% of the money is backing the Cubs, indicating strong market confidence in their performance.

Starting Pitching Analysis

Pitching Matchup: Ben Brown vs Tyler Anderson

Ben Brown (CHC):

Ben Brown features a diverse arsenal: Four-Seam Fastball (40% usage, 96.8 mph), Sinker (20% usage, 95.8 mph), Curveball (17% usage, 83.6 mph), Changeup (13% usage, 88.3 mph), Cutter (6% usage, 92.8 mph), and Slider (4% usage, 90.6 mph). Brown is a velocity-heavy pitcher, relying on power pitches to overpower hitters. This style matches up interestingly against the Angels, whose lineup averages .238 this season but projects a .246 xBA against Brown's mix.

Tyler Anderson (LAA):

Anderson brings a crafty approach with his arsenal: Four-Seam Fastball (39% usage, 89.3 mph), Changeup (33% usage, 78.7 mph), Cutter (21% usage, 84.2 mph), Sinker (4% usage, 88.5 mph), Slider (3% usage, 80.4 mph), and a rarely used Curveball (0% usage, 69.4 mph). The Cubs lineup, hitting .256 on the season, projects slightly lower at a .248 xBA versus Anderson’s offerings.

Lineup Advantage vs Arsenal

Lineup Matchups & Batting Edges

For Cubs vs Tyler Anderson: The Cubs lineup averages .256 this season but projects to a .248 xBA against Anderson's arsenal.

Biggest Increase: Seiya Suzuki shows improvement, from a season BA of .245 to an xBA of .278 (+33 points), with a slight increase in strikeouts (25.8% to 26.9%).
Biggest Decrease: Kyle Tucker sees a drop, from a season BA of .258 to an xBA of .188 (-70 points), alongside a rise in strikeouts (14.3% to 18%).

For Angels vs Ben Brown: The Angels lineup averages .239 on the season and projects a .246 xBA against Brown’s arsenal.

Biggest Increase: Jo Adell rises from a season BA of .232 to an xBA of .268 (+36 points), though his strikeout rate slightly increases (26.2% to 28.5%).
Biggest Decrease: Taylor Ward slips from a season BA of .235 to an xBA of .205 (-30 points), with a reduction in strikeout rate (26.7% to 22.4%).

K-Risk Analysis

Strikeout Risks & Rewards

The Cubs' projected K-rate is 20.5% vs Anderson, up 1.3% from their 19.3% season average, suggesting potential for increased strikeouts.
The Angels' projected K-rate is 25.7% vs Brown, down 1.6% from their 27.3% season average, indicating a potential for fewer strikeouts than usual.

Umpire Impact

Behind the Plate: Umpire assignment has not been announced, which makes prop volatility a concern.

What to Bet On

📢 Prop Alert: Seiya Suzuki (.245 → .278, +33 points) meets betting lean criteria!

No strikeout prop alerts as the criteria of a K% > 25% AND increase > 4% were not met.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Seiya Suzuki presents a strong betting opportunity with his projected xBA indicating a significant boost.
No significant pitcher prop opportunities are available due to lack of sufficient K% increase.
Umpire data is unavailable, adding uncertainty to strikeout and walk prop bets.
Overall betting recommendation leans towards player performance props rather than team-based strikeout bets.

🧠 FAQs

Q: Who is the best betting prop for the Cubs vs Angels game? A: Seiya Suzuki presents a standout opportunity with a projected xBA of .278, significantly above his season average.

Q: Is the umpire a pitcher-friendly umpire? A: Umpire assignment has not been announced, making it difficult to determine the umpire's tendencies.

Q: What time is the Cubs vs Angels game? A: The game is scheduled for 8/22 at 09:38PM.

---

Want more of our best props and betting analysis? Click below and join insider bets!

See all our best bets daily!

---