The Cleveland Indians are ready to face the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. This interleague matchup will get underway at 8:05 p.m. ET and fans hoping to watch it can tune in to SportsTime Ohio.
Cleveland Indians at Chicago Cubs Odds
The Cubs are 25-20 SU and 20-24 ATS. The team has lost 3.5 units for moneyline bettors and 4.2 units against the spread (ATS). Chicago has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Indians have gone 23-23 SU this year and are 18-27 ATS. In total, the teams lost 11.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline over the early part of the season and 12.8 units ATS. Cleveland is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the over has cashed in four of those seven.
Cubs games have a 19-24-1 over/under record thus far in 2018. Cleveland has an over/under record of 23-21-1.
Adam Plutko will get the nod for the visiting Indians. The right-handed Plutko is 1-0 with a 3.68 ERA and six strikeouts. He has yet to face the Cubs this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Cubs are turning to lefty Jon Lester (4-1, 2.52 ERA), who has 44 strikeouts and 21 walks as well as a 1.22 WHIP. Lester is 0-1 with four strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA against Cleveland this year.
Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 4.3 runs per game and its starters own a 3.35 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 8.40 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.65, along with a K-per-9 of 9.28.
The Indians offense has slashed .247/.320/.433 on its way to 4.9 runs scored per game this year, including 6.0 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 4.6 per game over the teams last five contests (3-2 SU).
Shortstop Francisco Lindor and third baseman Jose Ramirez have led Cleveland’s hitters. Lindor is hitting .302/.378/.573 with 12 home runs, 27 RBIs, 38 runs and five stolen bases, while Ramirez is hitting .297 with 14 homers, 34 RBIs, 31 runs and six stolen bases.
Ramirez performed well against left-handed pitchers on the road last year, putting up a slash line of .356/.397/.695 across 126 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .318/.374/.583).
For the home team, Chicago’s pitching staff has allowed 3.9 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have an ERA of 3.84, a WHIP of 1.35 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.4. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 2.84, a WHIP of 1.21 and a K/9 of 9.0.
The Chicago hitters are putting up 5.3 runs per outing, including 4.9 per game over its last 10 games and 5.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .305/.408/.489 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Third baseman Kris Bryant and second baseman Javier Baez have led the Cubs offense so far. Bryant is hitting .303/.426/.581 with eight home runs, 24 RBIs and 29 runs scored, while Baez line sits at .273/.304/.576 with 11 homers, 38 RBIs, 28 runs and six steals.
The Indians have gained 0.6 units and are 8-9 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in 10 of those games, compared to seven that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Cubs have lost 3.1 units and are 15-18 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 14 of those games, compared to 18 that went under the total.
Cleveland Indians at Chicago Cubs MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Cleveland has posted 24.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.2 over its last five.
- The Indians have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games. The Cubs have hit 10 over their last 10.
