| MATCHUP | Chicago Cubs | Tampa Bay Rays |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 4-5 | 4-5 |
| Spread | -1.5 159 | +1.5 -193 |
| Moneyline | +100 | -120 |
| Total | Over 8 (-104) | Under 8 (-116) |
| Where | George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida | |
| When | Monday, April 6, 2026 | |
| Time | 04:10 PM EDT | |
| TV | MLB.TV | |
In this article, we will formulate a Cubs vs Rays Prediction for this MLB matchup on Monday, April 6th in the opening game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays Preview
The Tampa Bay Rays have a 4-5 record this season and are sitting in the second place of the AL East. They have a 0-0 home record and are coming off a 4-1 road win against the Twins. Their previous three games were a 7-1 road win and a 4-10 road loss against the Twins, and a 2-8 road loss against the Brewers.
The Rays have a .265 batting average this season, .342 OBP and .391 Slugging percentage. Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has a 4.71 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Yandy Diaz is the team’s best hitter with a .405 batting average, also leading the team in RBI with 10 and adding a team-high two home runs.
Shane McClanahan (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the Rays, and he has a 0-1 record, 3.86 ERA and 1.07 WHIP.
Chicago Cubs Preview
The Chicago Cubs have a 4-5 record this season and are sitting in the last place of the NL Central. They have a 1-2 road record and are coming off a 5-6 road loss against the Guardians. Their previous three games were a 1-0 road win and a 1-4 road loss against the Guardians, and a 6-2 home win against the Angels.
The Cubs have a .206 batting average this season, .304 OBP and .334 Slugging percentage. Chicago’s pitching staff has a 3.53 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Nico Hoerner is the team’s best hitter with a .276 batting average. Ian Happ leads the team in RBI with 7, also adding a team-high four home runs.
Jameson Taillon (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Cubs, and he has a 0-0 record, 0.00 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.
The Chicago Cubs @ Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends: April 6, 2026
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Shane McClanahan Record this season: 0-1 ERA: 3.86
- Home Record: 0-0
- Last 5 against Cubs: 0-1
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Rays have won each of their last 10 day games at Tropicana Field after going to extra innings.
- The Cubs have lost five of their last six games as road favorites against AL East opponents.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the Rays’ last 11 games at Tropicana Field.
- The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six road games.
- The Rays have led after 3 innings in each of their last eight games as home underdogs.
- The Rays have won the first inning in six of their last seven games as home underdogs.
- The Rays have led after 5 innings in each of their last five games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Jameson Taillon Record this season: 0-0 ERA: 0.00
- Road Record: 0-0
- Last 5 against Rays: 2-1
Why the Chicago Cubs will win
- The Cubs have won each of their last eight day games against American League opponents following a road loss.
- The Rays have lost seven of their last eight games against the Cubs following a win.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in eight of their last nine home games against National League opponents following a win.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in eight of their last nine road games against AL East opponents following a loss.
- The Cubs have led after 3 innings in 11 of their last 13 day games against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cubs have won the first inning in three of their last four day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cubs have led after 5 innings in each of their last four road games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Cubs’ last eight road games against AL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Seven of the Rays’ last eight day games against National League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last nine games at Tropicana Field.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last five games.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Yandy Diaz has hit a home run in three of the Rays’ last four games as underdogs against NL opponents.
- Shane McClanahan has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his eight previous appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
- Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight appearances in day games.
- Shane McClanahan has recorded a win in five of his last six home appearances against NL opponents.
- Yandy Diaz ranks T3rd in the league in Hits (15) this season.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Nico Hoerner has recorded two or more hits in each of the Cubs’ last six day games against AL opponents that held a losing record.
- Jameson Taillon has recorded four or more strikeouts in eight of his last nine road appearances against AL opponents.
- Jameson Taillon has recorded a win in each of his last eight appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
- Seiya Suzuki has hit a home run in each of his last three appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Nico Hoerner ranks T2nd in the league in Steals (4) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Rays rank T3rd in the league for strikeouts against this season (69).
- The Rays rank T5th in the league for triples this season (2).
- The Cubs rank 29th in the league for hits this season (59).
- The Cubs rank T3rd in the league for hits allowed this season (59).
Cubs vs Rays Prediction
The Cubs won their only series against the Rays last season by 2-1 at home and both teams are tied 5-5 in their last 10 meetings.
In this Cubs vs Rays Prediction, both teams are coming at a pickem price. The Rays have back-to-back wins against the Twins with a combined 11-2 score and are playing their home opener. They are putting Shane McClanahan who had a decent first start this season and he goes up against Jameson Taillon, who started the season with a shutout for the Cubs. The Rays have by far the weakest bullpen in baseball so far, by they are far better against right-handed pitching, while the Cubs are weaker against lefties, so I will take the Rays to win their home opener today.