The Chicago Cubs welcome the Minnesota Twins to Wrigley Field on Sunday, July 19, 2026, for a 2:20 PM ET afternoon game that puts two intriguing pitching matchups front and center. Shota Imanaga takes the ball for Chicago against Minnesota right-hander Zebby Matthews. With a loaded Cubs lineup featuring Alex Bregman cleanup and Pete Crow-Armstrong leading off, this is a game that has real implications for where this club stands heading deeper into the second half. Catch it on Marquee Sports Network or 104.3 The Score.

Starting Pitching Matchup: Imanaga vs. Matthews

Shota Imanaga is the story on the Cubs side. The left-hander has been one of the more reliable arms in Chicago's rotation, and a Sunday start at Wrigley Field — with the ivy green and the flags popping — is exactly the kind of stage he thrives on. The Cubs are counting on Imanaga to give them length and keep Minnesota's lineup honest early.

On the other side, Zebby Matthews gets the call for the Twins. The young right-hander is still carving out his place in Minnesota's rotation, and a road start against a lineup as deep as Chicago's is a legitimate measuring stick. How Matthews handles the middle of this Cubs order will go a long way toward determining how many runs the Cubs manufacture before the bullpen takes over.

Cubs Lineup to Watch

• Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF, leadoff) — PCA sets the table and his speed in center is a weapon on both sides of the ball.
• Seiya Suzuki (RF, No. 2) — Slotted right behind PCA, Suzuki gives Chicago a dangerous second bat early in the order.
• Michael Busch (1B, No. 3) — Busch in the three-hole provides a left-handed presence that can punish right-handed pitching.
• Alex Bregman (3B, cleanup) — The veteran cleanup man. Bregman's presence in the four-spot gives this lineup a different kind of credibility and professional at-bat quality.
• Ian Happ (LF, No. 5) — Happ is a switch-hitter who keeps opposing managers from getting comfortable with bullpen matchups late.
• Dansby Swanson (SS, No. 9) — Swanson batting ninth is a luxury. He's capable of turning over the lineup at the right moments.

Twins Lineup to Watch

Minnesota sends Royce Lewis to the plate fourth, and he remains the most dangerous bat in this visiting lineup. Ryan Jeffers catching and hitting second gives the Twins a professional presence behind the dish. Brooks Lee and Ryan Kreidler round out the bottom of the order, but this Twins lineup doesn't have an automatic out — the Cubs bullpen will need to be sharp if Imanaga hands over a close game late.

Keys to the Game

• Imanaga's command early — If he's locating his pitches, Minnesota will be playing catch-up from the first inning.
• Bregman vs. Matthews — How the Twins' starter handles the Cubs' cleanup hitter will set the tone for the middle innings.
• Crow-Armstrong on the bases — PCA's ability to manufacture runs without the long ball keeps pressure on the opposing battery all afternoon.
• Bullpen bridge — A Sunday afternoon game at Wrigley in July means the wind and the crowd are factors. Whoever closes this game out needs to be ready.

Prediction

Imanaga is the difference-maker here. He's pitching at home, he's facing a Twins lineup that doesn't carry elite power top to bottom, and the Cubs have enough lineup depth to score in multiple ways against a young starter still finding his footing at the big league level. Expect Bregman or Suzuki to do real damage in the middle innings. Cubs win this one, 5-3.