Tag: Cubs Rangers odds picks prediction spread over/under betting line

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

The Chicago Cubs (0-2) end their season-opening 3-game series with the Texas Rangers (2-0) on Sunday. First pitch from Globe Life Field is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Rangers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Rangers lead 2-0

The Cubs scored 1st in both games in this series, but just could not build a lead and ended up losing. On Saturday night they allowed 5 runs before the 5th inning and the Rangers won 11-2. LHP Cody Bradford pitched 5 IP for Texas, allowing 2 R, 3 H with 1 BB and 6 K.

Cubs at Rangers projected starters

LHP Jordan Wicks vs. RHP Jon Gray

Wicks (4-1, 4.41 ERA in 2023) makes his 1st start this season. He ended last year with a 1.26 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 6.2 K/9 in 34 2/3 IP.

• 2023 road starts: 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA in 5 starts
• Allowed 10 BB in 22 IP on the road; just 1 BB in 12 2/3 IP at home

Gray (9-8, 4.12 ERA in 2023) makes his 1st start. He ended last season with 1.29 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 8.1 K/9 in 157 1/3 IP.

• 2023 home starts: 3-4 with a 4.78 ERA in 15 starts
• 6 K per 9 IP  in March/April was his best time in 2023

Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! BHQ offers Draft Prep and full-season subscriptions. Sign up today and start winning!

Cubs at Rangers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:17 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Cubs +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Rangers -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs +1.5 (-165) | Rangers -1.5 (+140)
• Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Cubs at Rangers picks and predictions

Prediction

Cubs 7, Rangers 5

Moneyline

The Cubs averaged 8.6 hits per game last year. After 2 games they sit at just 5.5, which is only above the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs. This number is sure to improve, and Sunday’s matchup may be the right time.

In 2023 the Rangers’ RHP Gray allowed a .280 batting average at home compared to .232 on the road.

I like the Cubs at plus money for their 1st win.

BET CUBS +115.

Run line/Against the spread

While I like the Cubs for this game, picking them at +1.5 at -165 is too chalky so PASS.

Over/Under

Texas leads MLB with 14.4 ABs per HR. And Cubs LHP gave up a lot of hits to winning teams (.921 OPS vs .632 OPS against bad teams).

While the Cubs sit at a dreaded 62 ABs per HR, that doesn’t mean they are not hitting. They get 2.2 hits per run, which is high since no team ended last season with more than 2.15. That means their efficiency will get better and Sunday is a great opportunity.

Also, the Cubs lead all teams hitting into double plays (2.5 per game).

LEAN OVER 9.5 (+100).

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Ethan Matthew on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

The Texas Rangers (1-0) welcome the Chicago Cubs (0-1) to Globe Life Field Saturday. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Rangers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Rangers lead 1-0

The Rangers beat the Cubs in the regular-season opener for both teams Thursday. Texas won 4-3 following a 10th-inning single by C Jonah Heim. Texas finished 50-31 at home last season, barely being edged by the Houston Astros for the AL West crown. The Rangers won the World Series last season and will look to continue their success with a similar roster in 2024.

The Cubs’ 2023 season resulted in an 83-79 finish. They were 9 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Chicago closed the year 38-43 on the road. It went early into its bullpen Thursday after 4 2/3 innings from SP Justin Steele, who left with an injury Thursday. Steele finished with 1 ER while the bullpen, none of which went for more than 2 innings, had 5 IP and 2 ER.

Cubs at Rangers projected starters

RHP Kyle Hendricks vs. LHP Cody Bradford

Hendricks (6-8, 3.74 ERA) made his 24 starts in 2023. He owned a 1.20 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9 and 6.1 K/9 through 137 IP

• 2023 road splits: 3-3, 3.29 ERA (65 2/3 IP, 24 ER – 4 HR), 14 BB, 40 K
• Hasn’t faced Texas since Cubs’ 2016 World Series run; threw for 6 scoreless innings on June 13, 2016.

Bradford (4-3, 5.30 ERA) made 8 starts in 2023 (20 appearances). He finished with a 1.21 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 through 56 IP.

• 2023 home splits: 2-1, 4.73 ERA (26 2/3 IP, 14 ER – 5 HR), 6 BB, 26 K
• Has yet to face Chicago in his career

Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! BHQ offers Draft Prep and full-season subscriptions. Sign up today and start winning!

Cubs at Rangers odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:50 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Cubs +108 (bet $100 to win $108) | Rangers -126 (bet $126 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs +1.5 (-178) | Rangers -1.5 (+146)
• Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: -106 | U: -114)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Cubs at Rangers picks and predictions

Prediction

Cubs 6, Rangers 4

Moneyline

BET CUBS (+108).

The Cubs have the pitching advantage as the Rangers may look to their bullpen early. Bradford started 8 games last season and didn’t eclipse 5 IP in any of those. With the Rangers sitting 24th in reliever ERA last season, banking on a strong bullpen showing could give value to the Cubs moneyline.

Chicago has a consistent starter on the mound and had a relatively good road record a season ago. Given neither team showed much offensively Thursday, back the side with the more trustworthy pitch.

Take CUBS (+108).

Run line/Against the spread

PASS.

There’s really no value here either way. The Cubs should be able to hang close, but at +1.5 (-178), there’s no value in taking the spread for the road side.

Over/Under

LEAN OVER 9.5 (-106).

While the score didn’t reflect it, there was some solid contact made as there were a pair of home runs Thursday in the Opening Day battle. The aces won’t be on the mound which should open the game up some.

The Rangers ended last season with a 93-75-11 O/U record while Chicago was 81-77-4 O/U. With both rosters similar to a season ago, expect the teams to start heating up and back OVER 9.5 (-106).

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

The Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers meet Thursday in the regular-season opener at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Rangers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Cubs won 2-1, outscoring the Rangers 14-11 with the favorite cashing in 2 of the 3 meetings and the Over also going 2-1

The Cubs posted an 83-79 record in 2023, finishing 9 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central Division. The Cubs managed a plus-96 run differential, which was actually best in the division, and 4th-best in the National League. Chicago posted a 38-43 record on the road, while going 30-22 inside the division and 25-21 vs. the AL.

The Rangers were edged out for the American League West Division by the Houston Astros, finishing 90-72. Texas made up for it with a wonderful postseason run, resulting in the team’s 1st World Series championship. Texas finished 19-13 inside the AL West last season, and it was 50-31 at home, and 22-24 vs. the NL.

Cubs at Rangers projected starters

LHP Justin Steele vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi

Steele (16-5, 3.06 ERA) made 30 starts in 2023. He posted a 1.17 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 9.1 K/9 through 173 1/3 innings.

• 2023 road splits: 4-2, 3.66 ERA (71 1/3 IP, 29 ER – 9 HR), 15 BB, 71 K
• 2023 vs. Texas: 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K in 1 start

Eovaldi (12-5, 3.63 ERA) made 25 starts in 2023. He posted a 1.14 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 through 144 innings.

• 2023 home splits: 6-3, 3.70 ERA (65 2/3 IP, 27 ER – 9 HR), 21 BB, 62 K
• 2023 vs. Cubs: 0-1, 3.18 ERA, 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K in 1 start

Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! BHQ offers Draft Prep and full-season subscriptions. Sign up today and start winning!

Cubs at Rangers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:26 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Cubs -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Rangers -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs -1.5 (+155) | Rangers +1.5 (-190)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -120 | U: +100)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Cubs at Rangers picks and predictions

Prediction

Rangers 4, Cubs 3

Moneyline

The RANGERS (-115) celebrate their World Series title prior to the team’s opener against the Cubs (-105). Texas won 11-7 last season against the Philadelphia Phillies in the team’s opener against another interleague opponent.

Texas is 2-3 in the past 5 openers, and the team suffered a 12-4 loss against the Cubs on March 28, 2019, the last time the teams met for an opener.

Run line/Against the spread

The Rangers +1.5 (-190) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return if you’d like a little insurance on the defending champs, but can’t trust them straight up.

It’s not a recommended betting strategy, especially over the long term.

PASS.

Over/Under

UNDER 8 (+100) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.

We have a strong pitching matchup. While Steele put up good numbers in 2023, the Over was actually 9-3 in his final 12 starts, as the bullpen let him down time and time again, so be careful.

The Under has cashed in 12 of the past 17 interleague games for the Rangers, too. Go low, but play it safe and don’t get carried away.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]