The Chicago Cubs will be taking on the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. This interleague matchup will begin at 7:10 p.m. ET and fans hoping to watch it can tune in to SportsTime Ohio.
Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians Odds
Cleveland (-140) is favored against Chicago (+130) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this one at 8 runs. Odds for betting on the game’s total stand at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at Cubs +1.5 runs (-170) and Indians +-1.5 runs (+150).
The Indians are 12-9 SU and 8-12 ATS. The team’s gained 0.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 5.2 units against the spread (ATS). Cleveland has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Cubs, on the other hand, have gone 11-9 SU this year and are 10-9 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 4.5 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season, but have gained 2.2 units ATS. Chicagohas covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven.
Cleveland games have a 6-14 over/under record so far in 2018. Chicago has an over/under record of 10-9.
Southpaw Jon Lester will get the start for the visiting Cubs. Lester is 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA and 18 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Indians this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Indians are going with righty Trevor Bauer (1-2, 2.67 ERA), who has 27 strikeouts and 10 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.11. Bauer did not record a start against the Cubs in 2017.
Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 3.1 runs per game overall this season as a unit. Its starters have a 2.85 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.09 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
The Cleveland hitters have produced 3.5 runs per outing, including 4.2 per game over its last 10 games and 3.4 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .251/.321/.413 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Indians’ hitters have been led by third baseman Jose Ramirez and left fielder Michael Brantley. Ramirez is slashing .266/.376/.557 with seven home runs, 12 RBIs and 11 runs scored, while Brantley’s line sits at .320/.346/.460 with 16 hits, eight RBIs and two runs.
Ramirez had a slight decline in production when facing lefties at home in 2017. Across 103 such plate appearances, he slashed .295/.340/.442 (his overall season line was .318/.374/.583).
In the visiting dugout, Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.05 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 8.45 K/9. The bullpen has managed an excellent ERA of just 2.76, along with a K-per-9 of 9.26.
The Cubs offense has slashed .264/.351/.443 on its way to 6.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 7.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 9.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Second baseman Javier Baez and third baseman Kris Bryant have led Chicago’s offense. Baez is slashing .299/.365/.740 with seven home runs, 24 RBIs and 19 runs scored, while Bryant (.319/.467/.536) is up to two homers, 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored.
The Cubs have lost 2.3 units and are 7-6 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in eight of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Indians have netted 2.5 units and are 1-4 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to four that went under the total.
Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Cubs, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
The Cubs have won four of their last five games SU.
Chicago fielders have committed six errors over their last five games, compared to two errors for Cleveland over its last five.
The Cubs have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
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