After strong series vs. Cards, Cubs' Alex Bregman takes aim at Yankees

Alex Bregman hasn't performed up to expectations in his first season with the Chicago Cubs, but the veteran third baseman is showing positive signs heading into the opener of a three-game series against the visiting New York Yankees on Friday afternoon.

Bregman is coming off a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals in which he went 10-for-18 with six doubles, a home run, seven runs scored and three RBIs.

He helped the Cubs win three of four in the set while raising his batting average from .234 to .248 and his OPS from .682 to .722.

Bregman still is a ways away from his career norms of .270 and .835, respectively, but Chicago manager Craig Counsell believes the 32-year-old veteran is heading in the right direction.

"He had a very good offensive series, and that's something to build on, for sure," Counsell said. "And it's confidence-building, and it's good for us winning baseball games as you saw this week."

Bregman was an American League All-Star with the Houston Astros in 2018 and 2019 and then with the Boston Red Sox last season before signing a five-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs in January.

While he was slow to start the season, the Cubs went 27-12 through May 8 before dropping back to .500 a month later.

Chicago managed to climb back to 12 games above .500 by the All-Star break. A 4-2, 10-inning win against the Cardinals on Thursday gave the Cubs a 5-2 record on their road trip and lifted them back to 15 games over .500.

"Everybody's just playing consistent baseball," Bregman said. "I think that's huge for us. Our pitching staff did a great job (in the St. Louis) series and all road trip, and (we) took care of the ball on defense and had a lot of traffic out there for the guys."

The Yankees had a chance for a third win in their four-game road series against the Chicago White Sox, but they lost the finale 2-1 in 11 innings on Thursday afternoon to fall to 1-8 in extra innings this season.

Right-hander Will Warren is scheduled to start the series opener on the mound for the Yankees.

Warren (7-5, 4.41 ERA) surrendered six runs and six hits over three-plus innings in his most recent outing, an 11-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

Warren is winless in his past nine appearances (eight starts), going 0-4 with a 6.45 ERA.

"I'm tired of going out there and doing exactly what happened (against Philadelphia)," Warren said. "It's pretty frustrating."

Warren was 4-0 with a 2.39 ERA after seven starts this season, but mistakes in vulnerable situations have taken their toll over the past three months.

"I'm confident when I take the mound that I can get it done," Warren said. "It's a matter of executing. I have the stuff. It's really about finding the groove. We're going to get back to work and find it sooner rather than later."

Warren made his only start against the Cubs on July 13, 2025, allowing two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings during a 4-1 defeat.

Shota Imanaga (7-8, 3.72 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Cubs on Friday.

The left-hander most recently fired six shutout innings in an 11-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. In his previous outing, he tossed seven scoreless frames while beating the Minnesota Twins.

Imanaga also made his only appearance against the Yankees last July 13, earning the win after yielding one run and two hits over seven innings. He helped end Cody Bellinger's career-best 17-game hitting streak.

--Field Level Media