The Chicago Cubs (26-33) and Los Angeles Angels (31-30) open a 3-game series Tuesday. First pitch at Angel Stadium is slated for 9:38 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Angels odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting of 2023; Chicago leads the all-time series — being renewed for the 1st time since 2019 — 11-6
The Cubs are fresh off splitting a 4-game series at the San Diego Padres from Friday-Monday. Chicago’s National League entry was shut out in 2 of those games against the Padres, including a 5-0 defeat in the finale Monday. The Cubs have posted a mere .554 OPS since May 25.
Los Angeles was off Monday as it returns home following a 3-4 road trip. The Angels snapped a 3-game losing skid with 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros Sunday.
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Cubs at Angels projected starters
RHP Hayden Wesneski vs. LHP Tyler Anderson
Wesneski (2-2, 4.81 ERA) is making his 9th start and 10th appearance. He has a 1.28 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 6.7 K/9 through 43 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 7 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 5 K in an 11-1 road loss vs. the Minnesota Twins on May 13
- Is a fly-ball pitcher and has yielded a high 2.09 HR/9. A lofty 11.6% barrel rate has not helped.
- Logged a 2.18 ERA in a 33-inning rookie season a year ago
Anderson (2-1, 5.47 ERA) makes his 11th start. He has a 1.60 WHIP, 4.3 BB/9 and 5.6 K/9 through 52 2/3 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 4 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K in a 7-3 road loss vs. the Chicago White Sox last Tuesday
- Has fanned just 9 batters in his last 21 IP
- Current Cubs batters own an aggregate .831 OPS against him
Cubs at Angels odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:07 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Cubs -102 (bet $102 to win $100) | Angels -116 (bet $116 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs -1.5 (+146) | Angels +1.5 (-178)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: -118 | U: -104)
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Cubs at Angels picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 6, Angels 4
Moneyline
Chicago has underplayed its runs/runs allowed profile of 4.43/4.33 and is hampered by a 5-11 mark in 1-run games. The Cubs are 11-7 against lefty starters; their .815 OPS against southpaws ranks 4th in MLB.
Chicago has played the tougher schedule to date, and the Cubs are 4-1 across their last 5 series openers.
The visitors are the lean here but cap tip to the betting public: the margin for profit here is tiny. Consider a partial-unit play on CHICAGO (-102).
Run line/Against the spread
More juice flows into the equation here, and that cuts too far into the Chicago return. PASS.
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Over/Under
There is some general high-score lean here, and the weather forecast calls for an outward breeze which helps that cause. However, the number and pricing are in on the accounting and that means little or no leverage. PASS.
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