Chicago Cubs vs Cleveland Guardians Picks and Predictions for Friday April 3 2026
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The Chicago Cubs travel to Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, to face the Cleveland Guardians with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 PM on April 3, 2026. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Unlmtd and MLB.TV. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. This matchup features two teams hovering around the .500 mark early in the season, setting up a competitive afternoon contest. Be sure to check out free MLB picks for more insights on today’s action.
Starting Pitchers Matchup
The Cubs are expected to send Cade Horton to the mound, while the Guardians will counter with Joey Cantillo. Horton has been strong in his first outing, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.84 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP across 6.1 innings. He allowed four hits, struck out four, walked one, and gave up one home run. Cantillo, on the other hand, comes into this game with a 0-0 record, carrying a 4.91 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP over 3.2 innings. In that outing, he allowed four hits, struck out five, walked three, and did not allow a home run. The early numbers suggest a slight edge on the mound for Chicago.
Cubs Looking to Stay Balanced
The Chicago Cubs enter this game with a 3-3 overall record and are opening their road schedule at 0-0 away from home. Over their last five games, Chicago has recently won over Los Angeles by scores of 6-2 and 7-2, while also picking up a 10-2 victory against Washington. In that same stretch, they lost 2-0 to Los Angeles and dropped a 6-3 decision to Washington. This recent stretch reflects a team that has shown flashes of strong play but is still working toward consistency.
At the plate, the Cubs are hitting .227 with 30 runs and 44 hits, including six home runs. Their on-base percentage is .326 with a .356 slugging percentage. On the pitching side, Chicago has been solid, posting a 3.50 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP while holding opponents to a .206 batting average. They have also recorded 61 strikeouts and issued 19 walks, showing a good balance of control and effectiveness.
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A key strength for Chicago has been its pitching. With a 3.50 ERA and a low opponent batting average, they have done a good job limiting scoring opportunities. This ability to control games from the mound has allowed them to stay competitive even when the offense has been inconsistent.
Guardians Leaning on Pitching and Timely Hits
The Cleveland Guardians come into this contest with a 4-3 overall record and will be playing their first home game of the season. Over their last five games, Cleveland has recently won over Los Angeles by scores of 4-1 and 4-2, while also picking up a 6-5 extra-inning win against Seattle. They have also lost to Los Angeles by a 4-1 score and dropped an 8-0 game to Seattle. This stretch shows a team that has been competitive but has experienced some inconsistency.
Offensively, the Guardians are hitting .189 with 22 runs and 43 hits, including six home runs. Their on-base percentage sits at .273 with a .322 slugging percentage. On the mound, Cleveland has posted a 3.98 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP while allowing opponents to hit .226. They have recorded 73 strikeouts and issued 27 walks, showing a strong ability to generate strikeouts.
The main weakness for Cleveland has been its offensive production. With a team batting average under .200 and a lower on-base percentage, they have struggled to consistently create scoring opportunities. This has put added pressure on their pitching staff to keep games close.
Chicago Cubs vs Cleveland Guardians Picks and Prediction
Chicago Cubs vs Cleveland Guardians Pick
Pick: Chicago Cubs Moneyline
The Cubs appear to have the edge in this matchup, particularly on the mound. Horton has delivered a strong first outing with a lower ERA and WHIP, while Cantillo has allowed more baserunners and carries a higher WHIP. Chicago also holds a slight advantage in offensive production, with more runs scored and a higher on-base percentage. With stronger pitching numbers and a more balanced overall profile, the Cubs are in a good position to secure the win.
Chicago Cubs vs Cleveland Guardians Total Pick
Pick: Under
I am leaning toward the under in this matchup because both teams have shown limitations offensively. Cleveland is hitting just .189, while Chicago has been somewhat inconsistent at the plate. At the same time, both pitching staffs have posted respectable ERAs and have been able to limit opponents. With both teams relying more on pitching than offense, this game sets up as a lower-scoring contest.
Final Score Prediction: Chicago Cubs 4 – Cleveland Guardians 3
This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Thursday.
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