Rangers vs Cubs Odds, Predictions & Starting Pitchers (April 7)

• Early season Interleague play continues when the Rangers visit the Cubs on Friday, April 7th
• The Cubs are -129 moneyline favorites with ace right-hander Marcus Stroman on the hill
• Check out the Rangers vs Cubs odds, plus our best bet and prediction below

Not often do baseball clubs get two days off in row during the regular season, especially this early in the year. After Chicago’s series finale with Cincinnati was postponed and a scheduled off day on Thursday, the Cubs (2-3, 1-2 home) should be more than fresh when they begin a three game set with the Rangers (4-2, 0-0 away).

First pitch at Wrigley Field between Texas and the Cubbies is scheduled for 2:20 pm ET on Friday, April 7th. This game is available to watch on Apple TV+. The Rangers vs Cubs odds, plus our best bet and pick can be seen below.

Rangers vs Cubs Odds

With their opening day starter headed to the hill, the Cubs are -129 moneyline favorites to take the opener against Texas. Those odds give them an implied win probability of 56.33%, while the Rangers have a 51.46% probability to win this one.

It’s expected to be a cool 42 degrees at game time, but the sun will be shining for this afternoon matchup and there is only expected to be a gentle breeze going through the Windy City during this contest.

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Odds as of April 6th at Caesars Sportsbook.

Texas vs Chicago Probable Pitchers

In his first start of the season, Marcus Stroman was lights out for the Cubs. The always quotable righthander went six scoreless innings in his season debut, striking out eight. His ground ball percentage was 75%, an excellent mark as he looks to rebound from an up and down season last year.

Marcus Stroman's 3Ks in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/attBxsF7h1

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 30, 2023

Everybody knows Stroman is at his best when he keeps the ball down in the zone. Last year, he allowed 1.04 home runs per nine innings, the worst ratio of his career while he had a 51.7% ground ball rate. When he’s at the top of his game, Stro-Show induces ground balls at a rate above 60%.

Eovaldi vs Stroman 2022 Stats

For the Rangers, Nathan Eovaldi looks to bounce back from an injury riddled season that saw him make just 20 starts. The big righty went five innings allowing three runs in his first start of the season and got the decision in a 16-3 Texas romping of Philadelphia.

Rangers Offense Comes Back Down to Earth

No team opened up the season making as much noise on offense as the Rangers, who crushed the run total in the MLB odds on their own in their first two ballgames. They put up 27 runs in those first two games, but have been fairly quiet since.

Over their last four games, Texas has averaged just 2.3 runs scored per game, after putting up 13.5 per in their first two outings.

Word gets around fast: Rangers attacked fastballs in 1st two games with great success. Saw lots more secondary stuff in next 2. Gibson used secondary stuff for 6 of his 8 pitches in 1st. That's the early adjustment opposing pitchers will force Rangers to make.

— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) April 5, 2023

On the other side, the Cubs have been a little more steady, although, they are coming off their best offensive display of the season, a 12-5 victory over the Reds. Off-season signing Dansby Swanson is fitting in very comfortably with is new squad, leading the team with 10 hits and a. 500 batting average in the early going.

Rangers vs Cubs Pick

Not much is expected of either side this season as both teams are longshots in the MLB Division odds. For Texas, they’ll need the infield duo of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager to produce more than they did last season. Although they both banged out over 25 homers, neither had an OPS above .800 and both batted below .250 for the campaign.

It won’t be an easy day at the office for them or the rest of the Rangers squad when they go against Stroman and his arsenal of pitches. He was lights out in his first game and with seven days off between starts, our prediction is that the rest gives his arm the extra power to mow down a Texas offense that’s struggled since an incredible start.

Pick: Chicago Cubs Moneyline (-129)