Baseball is weird. You can have two teams like the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Angels—franchises from massive markets with massive histories—and they still feel like strangers because they rarely share a field. But when they do? It’s usually chaos.
Most people looking at chicago cubs vs los angeles angels matches expect a lopsided affair based on whatever the current standings say. In August 2025, that’s exactly what happened, but not in the way anyone predicted. The Cubs didn't just win; they essentially took over Anaheim for a weekend, leaving the Halos searching for answers in their own dugout.
The 2025 Sweep: A Weekend of Pure Cubbie Dominance
The most recent chapter of this cross-country rivalry was a total demolition. Usually, when the North Siders head to Angel Stadium, you expect Mike Trout to do Mike Trout things. Not this time. Over a three-game stretch from August 22 to August 24, 2025, the Cubs outscored the Angels 19-6.
It started with a nail-biter. On Friday night, Pete Crow-Armstrong—a Southern California native playing in front of a hometown crowd—crushed a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning. It was a 3-2 win that set the tone. If you were watching, you could feel the energy shift. The Angels had Mike Trout at the plate with the game on the line in the bottom of the ninth, and Daniel Palencia blew him away with 100 mph heat to end it.
Saturday was a bloodbath. 12-1. Kyle Tucker, who had been struggling in a massive 25-game power drought, suddenly looked like an MVP again. He blasted two home runs and drove in five. Reese McGuire added a grand slam just for good measure. By the sixth inning, the "Let's Go Cubs" chants were so loud you would’ve thought the game was being played at Clark and Addison.
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Why This Specific Matchup Stings for Angels Fans
There is a specific kind of irony in chicago cubs vs los angeles angels matches. It often involves "the ones who got away."
Take the series finale in 2025. The Angels sent out Kyle Hendricks. Yes, that Kyle Hendricks. The Professor. The man who started Game 7 of the 2016 World Series for the Cubs was now wearing a red halo cap and trying to navigate his way through his former teammates.
He didn't have much luck.
Hendricks had faced 29 of the 30 MLB teams in his career. The Cubs were the final boss. He pitched well enough, but the Cubs' lineup—led by Nico Hoerner and Carson Kelly—grinded him down. It was a strange, bittersweet sight for fans of both teams. Seeing Hendricks induce soft contact against guys wearing the jersey he wore for a decade felt... wrong.
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- The Power Shift: While the Angels have had generational talents like Trout and (formerly) Ohtani, the Cubs have built a roster that seems more balanced for the long haul.
- Pitching Gap: During that August series, the Cubs' rotation sported an MLB-best 2.81 ERA. The Angels' arms, conversely, struggled to keep the ball in the yard.
- The Trout Factor: Mike Trout went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in the Saturday blowout. It was a sobering reminder of how much the Halos have struggled to provide support for their superstar.
Notable Historical Moments Between the Two
Because they play in different leagues, these teams don't have a 100-year rivalry. They have a "we see you once every three years" kind of relationship.
Historically, the Angels have actually held their own quite well. Before the 2025 sweep, the Angels swept the Cubs in 2023. That series featured Shohei Ohtani at the height of his powers, dismantling Chicago's pitching. It's a pendulum. One year, the Angels look like the superior powerhouse of the West; the next, the Cubs come in and treat Angel Stadium like their personal vacation home.
The 2016 season—the year the Cubs broke the curse—actually started with a two-game series in Anaheim. The Cubs won both games by a combined score of 15-1. Looking back, that was the first real sign that the 2016 squad was something special.
Looking Forward: How to Watch and What to Expect
If you’re planning on catching future chicago cubs vs los angeles angels matches, keep an eye on the schedule for 2026 and beyond. With the new balanced schedule in MLB, these teams will see each other at least once a year now, rather than waiting for the interleague rotation to swing around.
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- Watch the Pitching Matchups: The Cubs' strategy under Craig Counsell relies heavily on high-leverage bullpen usage. If the Angels can't get to the starter early, they're usually in trouble.
- The PCA Factor: Pete Crow-Armstrong loves playing in California. He’s a guy who thrives on the big stage and seems to have a knack for big hits against West Coast teams.
- Check the Venue: When the games are at Wrigley, the wind is the biggest player. At Angel Stadium, it's a much more neutral environment, which usually favors the hitters.
If you're a bettor or a fantasy manager, pay attention to the venue. The Cubs have historically struggled with the "West Coast Trip" fatigue, though the 2025 sweep proved that’s not a hard and fast rule.
The next time these two meet, don't look at the season records. Look at the momentum. As we saw last August, a "slumping" superstar like Kyle Tucker can find his swing the moment he sees that big "A" on the scoreboard. Baseball doesn't care about your predictions.
Keep an eye on the official MLB schedule for the next series dates. If you can, try to snag a ticket for a game at Wrigley Field; there is nothing quite like seeing the halos of the Angels' helmets against the green ivy of the North Side. Just don't expect the Professor to be the one throwing the first pitch for the home team anymore.
To stay ahead of the next matchup, verify the probable starters 48 hours before first pitch. Focus on groundball rates for the Angels' staff, as the current Cubs lineup thrives on elevated fastballs. If the wind is blowing out at Wrigley, over-index on power hitters like Jo Adell and Seiya Suzuki.