Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago Cubs Prediction 4/3/26 MLB Picks Today

The Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Guardians meet Friday in MLB action from Progressive Field. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Guardians prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Chicago Cubs did not have a starting pitcher announced at the time that this article was posted. The Cleveland Guardians will send out Joey Cantillo for the start here and Cantillo is 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA and 5 strikeouts this season. This will be Cantillo’s second career start against the Cubs.

Chicago Cubs Recap

The Chicago Cubs come into this game looking to add on to their 6-2 win over the Angels last time out to improve to 3-3 this season. After this series, Chicago will head on the road again for a series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Cubs Alternate Wins & Losses In Each Of Their First 6 Games

Ian Happ has 5 hits with a double and a team-high 3 home runs and 5 RBIs while Alex Bregman has 5 hits with 2 home runs and 3 RBIs. Nico Hoerner’s added 7 hits with 4 doubles and 3 RBIs and Moises Ballesteros has 6 hits with a pair of doubles. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s also added 6 hits with 3 RBIs as well on the year. 

Why the Chicago Cubs will win

• The Guardians have lost 12 of their last 13 games against NL Central opponents.
• The Cubs have won 11 of their last 12 road games against American League opponents following a home win.
• The Guardians have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four games following a win.
• The Cubs have covered the run line in nine of their last 12 day games against AL Central opponents.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Alex Bregman has hit a home run in three of his last four road appearances against AL Central opponents.
• Alex Bregman has recorded at least one hit in each of his 10 previous appearances against the Guardians after not playing the previous day.
• Nico Hoerner ranks T1st in the league in Steals (4) this season.

Cleveland Guardians Recap

The Cleveland Guardians come into this game looking to add on to a 4-1 win over the Dodgers last time out to improve to 4-3 on the year. After this series, the Guardians will host the Royals at home in a division series.

Guardians Also Looking For Consistency

Chase DeLauter has 6 hits with a team-high 4 home runs and 5 RBIs while Steven Kwan has a team-high 7 hits with a double and Jose Ramirez has 4 hits with 2 doubles, a home run and 5 RBIs this season. Brayan Rocchi has also added 4 hits with a double and 3 RBIs this season.

Why the Cleveland Guardians will win

• The Cubs have lost each of their last seven road games.
• The home team has won each of the last six games between the Cubs and Guardians.
• The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games as favorites against the Guardians following a win.
• The Guardians have covered the run line in 10 of their last 11 games as underdogs against National League opponents.

Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts

• Rhys Hoskins has hit a home run in four of his nine previous appearances with his team as a home underdog against the Cubs.
• Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one hit in each of his 10 previous appearances in home openers.
• Chase DeLauter ranks 2nd in the league in Home Runs (4) this season.

Total Runs Facts

• Seven of the Guardians’ last eight games as underdogs against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Five of the Cubs’ last six road games against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.

Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Guardians Prediction

I’m leaning towards the Guardians here, it would be interesting to see who the Cubs send out here, but the thing for me in this game is that the Guardians get their home opener here finally, and this is a Guardians team that historically has played well at home. And despite the absences, I still think the Guardians have a solid bullpen when we get to the later stages of the game. All in all, I like the Guardians to draw first blood.