Chicago Cubs vs Seattle Mariners Picks and Prediction for Saturday, August 22, 2026

The Chicago Cubs visit the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Saturday, with the game starting at 7:15 PM ET. Chicago is 74-54 and second in the NL Central, five games behind Milwaukee, after a 3-0 loss to the White Sox. The Cubs have won two of their last five but hold the first NL Wild Card position. Seattle is 60-68 and third in the AL West, four games behind Houston, after a 7-4 loss to Milwaukee. The Mariners are 2.5 games behind the final AL Wild Card spot. Cash in a big winner with our free MLB picks.

Chicago Cubs Look to Restart Their Offense

Chicago was shut out by the White Sox in its most recent game after scoring 11 runs across the previous two. The Cubs rank 10th in MLB with a .248 batting average and have scored 656 runs with 164 home runs. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads Chicago with a .279 average, 31 home runs and 79 RBI while adding 31 stolen bases. Seiya Suzuki is batting .268 with 22 homers and 74 RBI, while Alex Bregman has a .345 on-base percentage.

The Cubs have a .337 on-base percentage and .418 slugging percentage, giving the lineup several ways to create scoring chances. Chicago’s pitching staff ranks 17th with a 4.14 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, while opponents are batting .245. The Cubs have allowed 192 home runs, but their 74-54 overall record includes a strong 36-27 mark away from Wrigley Field. Chicago also enters the weekend with a six-game cushion in the Wild Card standings.

Injuries: Daniel Palencia (60-Day IL), Hoby Milner (15-Day IL), Kevin Gausman (Day-To-Day), Matt Shaw (10-Day IL), Tyler Austin (60-Day IL).

Seattle Mariners Try to Improve at Home

Seattle has split its last five games at 2-3, with results ranging from a 10-5 win over Houston to a 22-0 loss at Milwaukee. The Mariners rank 28th in MLB with a .230 batting average and have scored 500 runs with 145 home runs. Randy Arozarena leads the regular lineup with a .272 average and .366 on-base percentage while adding 17 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Julio Rodriguez has 19 homers, 53 RBI and 16 steals.

The Mariners have a .310 on-base percentage and .375 slugging percentage, both well below Chicago’s marks. Seattle gets more help from its pitching staff, which ranks 10th in MLB with a 3.97 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. The Mariners have held opponents to a .247 average and recorded 1,076 strikeouts. Seattle is 33-29 at T-Mobile Park, but its 60-68 overall record has left little room for error in a crowded AL Wild Card race.

Injuries: Carlos Vargas (60-Day IL), Cole Wilcox (15-Day IL), Bryan Woo (Day-To-Day), J.P. Crawford (10-Day IL), Colt Emerson (10-Day IL).

Pitching Matchup

Chicago Cubs – David Peterson

Peterson is 7-7 with a 5.29 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 112.1 innings. The left-hander has allowed 125 hits, 47 walks and 11 home runs while striking out 95. Peterson’s 1.53 WHIP shows the frequency of baserunners he has allowed, although he has done a reasonable job limiting home runs.

Seattle Mariners – Kade Anderson

Anderson is scheduled to start for Seattle, but no major-league pitching statistics are provided for the left-hander. The supplied data lists no record, ERA, WHIP, innings, hits, strikeouts, walks or home runs allowed. That uncertainty makes Peterson the only starter in Saturday’s matchup with an established MLB statistical sample.

Chicago Cubs vs Seattle Mariners Game Pick

• Chicago Cubs

Chicago gets the selection because its offense has produced at a much higher level over the full season. The Cubs have scored 656 runs compared with Seattle’s 500 and own clear advantages in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Peterson’s 5.29 ERA and 1.53 WHIP create risk, but Anderson enters without MLB numbers in the supplied data. Chicago is also 36-27 away from home and sits comfortably in a Wild Card position. The Cubs’ deeper lineup makes Chicago the play in Saturday’s matchup.

Chicago Cubs vs Seattle Mariners Over/Under Pick

• Over

A higher-scoring game gets the nod with uncertainty surrounding both sides of the starting matchup. Peterson has a 5.29 ERA and 1.53 WHIP after allowing 172 combined hits and walks in 112.1 innings, while Anderson has no MLB pitching statistics provided. Chicago has scored 656 runs and owns a .418 slugging percentage, giving the Cubs enough production to pressure Seattle’s pitching. The Mariners have been inconsistent offensively, but Peterson’s baserunner numbers create opportunities. Those factors make the over the play for Saturday.