Chicago Cubs vs
Cleveland GuardiansPredictions & Preview

Chicago Cubs to Take on Cleveland Guardians in Opening Game of Three-Game Series at Progressive Field

The Chicago Cubs are set to face off against the Cleveland Guardians in the first game of a three-game interleague series at Progressive Field on Monday evening. The Cubs are coming off a 3-1 road win against the Chicago White Sox, while the Guardians secured a 5-3 road victory over the Minnesota Twins. With a record of 59-60, the Cubs are sending rookie lefty Shota Imanaga to the mound, while the AL Central-leading Guardians (69-49) will have righty Ben Lively as their starting pitcher. Chicago is currently favored to win with the opening line at -116, now sitting at Chicago -121.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cubs -121 | Guardians +109
• Spread: Cubs -1.5 (+141) | Guardians +1.5 (-161)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Chicago will win straight-up is 55%.

Chicago vs Cleveland Stats

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are working towards reaching a .500 record this season and their recent 3-1 road win over the Chicago White Sox has brought them closer to that goal. The team showed decent performance at the plate, with Michael Busch and Isaac Paredes hitting doubles as the only extra-base hits. Despite going just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and leaving 12 players on base, Justin Steele pitched well over six innings, allowing only one unearned run. Southpaw rookie Shota Imanaga, with a 9-2 record and impressive stats, will be starting for the Cubs. With a power ranking of 8, the Cubs are currently ranked 19th in offense, 9th in defense, and have a record of 59-60 this season.

Cleveland Guardians Analysis

The Cleveland Guardians have been performing exceptionally well, with a recent victory over the Minnesota Twins. They showcased strong hitting, with key players like Jose Ramirez and David Fry hitting home runs and Andres Gimenez stealing bases. The team hit 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base. Pitcher Tanner Bibee gave up only one run in 5.2 innings. Right-hander Ben Lively has a solid record of 10-7 with a 3.59 ERA and needs to work on preventing home runs. The Guardians are ranked 18th overall, with a strong offense and defense. In past matchups, Chicago went 2-1 against Cleveland.

Contrasting Pitching Performances and Offensive Outputs Set Stage for Cubs vs Guardians Series Opener

When evaluating the performance of the starting pitchers over the past seven games, there is a notable contrast. Shota Imanaga holds a record of 2-0 with a 3.25 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 44.1 innings, while Ben Lively stands at 3-3 with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 39.0 innings during this timeframe. Analyzing the offensive output in the last 15 days reveals a subtle distinction, with the Cubs averaging 4.38 runs in their previous 13 games, while the Guardians have scored an average of 4.86 runs in their last 14 games. Considering these factors, it is recommended to favor the Chicago Cubs to emerge victorious in the opening game of the series.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]