Texas Rangers vs Chicago Cubs 4/8/2023 Expert Picks, Odds and Previews
On Saturday, April 8, 2023, the Texas Rangers will take on the Chicago Cubs in a Major League Baseball game at Wrigley Field, IL, scheduled to start at 4:05 PM ET. Although the Rangers won their first three games of the season, they have since dropped three of their last four. Left-handed pitcher Martin Perez (1-0, 1.59 ERA) will take the mound for the Rangers, hoping to turn things around. In his last game against the Phillies, Perez threw 5.2 innings, giving up eight hits and three walks but only one run, helping his team to a 2-1 victory. Last year, Perez recorded a 2.89 ERA and a 12-8 record, including a 7-4 record and a 2.86 ERA in 16 road appearances.
Texas struggled in Friday’s game, producing just three hits and going 0 for 5 with runners on base. While they blasted nine home runs in their first two games, Josh Jung and Mitch Garver have each led the team with two home runs so far this season. According to Vegas Insider’s projections, the Rangers are expected to win 81.5 games this season. They currently have a 4-3 record, producing a total profit of $19 for sports bettors this season based on a one-unit wager of $100 on each game. The Rangers played a three-game series against the Orioles this week, losing 2-0 on Monday and 7-2 on Tuesday before winning the finale 5-2. In Friday’s game against the Cubs, the Rangers only managed three hits in a 2-0 loss, with Nathan Eovaldi pitching 5.2 innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits and a walk.
- The Texas Rangers are 4-8 SU in their last 12 matches with the Cubs.
- The Rangers are 0-6 SU in their last 6 games on the road.
- The total stayed UNDER in 6 of Texas’ last 7 games on the road against Chicago Cubs.
Texas Rangers vs Chicago Cubs 4/8/2023 Expert Picks, Odds and Previews
On Friday, the Chicago Cubs notched their second consecutive win to reach the .500 mark. After defeating the Reds 12-5 on Tuesday, the Cubs had two days off due to a postponed game and a scheduled off day. The Cubs scored their first run in the bottom of the fourth inning when former LA Dodger Cody Bellinger hit a single, and Ian Happ hit a double in the sixth inning to score the second run.
According to covers.com, sports bettors who backed the Cubs in each of their first six games lost $18. Despite having a victory projection of 76.5 games, the Cubs will aim to surpass .500 on Saturday. Left-handed pitcher Justin Steele (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the year after pitching six scoreless innings in a 3-1 loss to Milwaukee last Saturday. In the previous season, Steele had a 4-7 record with a 3.18 ERA in 24 starts and a 3-4 record with a 2.78 ERA in 14 home games.
- The total stayed UNDER in 14 of the Chi Cubs’ last 17 games at home.
- The total remained UNDER in 6 of the Cubs’ last 7 games at home against Texas.
- The Chicago Cubs are 6-14 SU in their last 20 games against an opponent in the American League.
Texas Rangers vs Chicago Cubs. The MLB pick for this game is the Texas Rangers. As both teams prepare to face each other, it’s expected to be a closely contested match with a good pitching battle on both sides. These two teams have played similarly, and both are expected to put up a tough fight. While the Cubs rank 28th in home runs per game with 0.60, the Rangers sit at 13th with 1.3 runs per game, showing greater power. Therefore, it’s predicted that the Texas Rangers will come out victorious with a score of 6-3.
MLB Starting Time: 4:05 PM (EDT)
Location: Wrigley Field, IL
Date: Saturday, April 8, 2023
TV: FS1
MLB Odds: Texas Rangers +101
MLB Totals: 8
