Mar 17, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Chicago Cubs vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction 4/4/2026 Today’s MLB Picks

Pick details

MATCHUP Chicago Cubs Cleveland Guardians
Team Records 3-4 5-3
Where Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
When Saturday, April 4, 2026
Time 07:15 PM EDT
TV MLB.TV

In this article, we will formulate a Cubs vs Guardians Prediction for this MLB matchup on Saturday, April 4th in the second game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.

Cleveland Guardians Preview

The Cleveland Guardians have a 5-3 record this season and are sitting in the first place of the AL Central. They have a 1-0 home record and are coming off a 4-1 home win over the Cubs. Their previous three games were a 4-1 road win, a 1-4 road loss and a 4-2 road win against the Dodgers.

The Guardians have a .203 batting average this season, .287 OBP and .348 Slugging percentage. Cleveland’s pitching staff has a 3.60 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Chase DeLauter is the team’s best hitter with a .346 batting average, also leading the team in RBI with 8 and adding a team-high five home runs.

Slade Cecconi (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Guardians, and he has a 0-1 record, 12.46 ERA and 2.08 WHIP.

Chicago Cubs Preview

The Chicago Cubs have a 3-4 record this season and are sitting in the last place of the NL Central. They have a 0-1 road record and are coming off a 1-4 road loss to the Guardians. Their previous three games were a 6-2 home win, a 0-2 home loss and a 7-2 home win over the Angels.

The Cubs have a .222 batting average this season, .315 OBP and .342 Slugging percentage. Chicago’s pitching staff has a 3.63 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Nico Hoerner is the team’s best hitter with a .292 batting average. Ian Happ leads the team in RBI with 5, also adding a team-high three home runs.

Shota Imanaga (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the Cubs, and he has a 0-1 record, 7.20 ERA and 1.60 WHIP.

The Chicago Cubs @ Cleveland Guardians Betting Trends: April 4, 2026

  • Probable Starting Pitcher: Slade Cecconi      Record this season: 0-1      ERA: 12.46
  • Home Record: 0-0
  • Last 5 against Cubs: –

Why the Cleveland Guardians will win

  • The Cubs have lost each of their last eight road games.
  • The home team has won each of the last seven games between the Cubs and Guardians.
  • The Guardians have covered the run line in 11 of their last 12 games as underdogs against National League opponents.
  • The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight road games against teams that held a winning record.
  • The Guardians have led after 3 innings in three of their last four games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
  • The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in five of their last six road games.

  • Probable Starting Pitcher: Shota Imanaga      Record this season: 0-1      ERA: 7.20
  • Road Record: 0-0
  • Last 5 against Guardians: 1-0

Why the Chicago Cubs will win

  • The Guardians have lost each of their last eight night games against NL Central opponents.
  • The Cubs have won each of their last eight games as road favorites against American League opponents following a road loss.
  • The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last eight games as road favorites against American League opponents following a road loss.
  • The Guardians have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven Saturday home games against National League opponents.
  • The Guardians have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four home games against NL Central opponents.
  • The Guardians have trailed after 5 innings in five of their last six night games against NL Central opponents.
  • The Cubs have won the first inning in each of their last five Saturday games against American League opponents that held a winning record.

Total Runs Facts

  • Eight of the Guardians’ last nine games as underdogs against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
  • Seven of the Cubs’ last eight games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
  • The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last 14 games between the Cubs and Guardians.
  • The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last 10 games at Progressive Field.

Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts

  • Jose Ramirez has hit a home run in three of the Guardians’ last four home games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
  • Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one hit in each of the Guardians’ last 12 games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

  • Shota Imanaga has recorded five or more strikeouts in three of his last four appearances against AL opponents.
  • Seiya Suzuki has recorded a hit in each of his last eight appearances with the Cubs as favorites.
  • Seiya Suzuki has hit at least one home run in three of his last four appearances in night games.
  • Nico Hoerner ranks T1st in the league in Steals (4) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

  • The Guardians rank 27th in the league for batting average this season (.203).
  • The Guardians rank 4th in the league for strikeouts this season (83).
  • The Cubs rank 4th in the league for steals this season (8).
  • The Cubs rank T5th in the league for walks this season (32).

Cubs vs Guardians Prediction

The Cubs are 3-1 in their last 4 meetings against the Guardians but the Guardians have won their last four meetings in Cleveland.

In this Cubs vs Guardians Prediction, the Cubs are coming as -140 road favorites. The Guardians won the opening game of this series but they have a major pitching disadvantage today, as Slade Cecconi goes up against Shota Imanage. Cecconi gave up 6 runs in 4.1 innings pitched in his first start, while Imanaga gave up 4 runs in his first start and has given up 3 runs in each of his two previous starts against the Guardians. Imanaga is surely better than this and I expect a bounce-back performance today. Take the Cubs on the moneyline.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Chicago Cubs ML

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