Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Guardians Picks and Prediction for Friday, April 3 2026
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The Chicago Cubs (3-3) travel to Cleveland (4-3) to take on the Guardians on Friday night. There is a chance of rain, with the weather expected to be in the low 70s at game time (4:10 pm ET) from Progressive Field. This will be the home opener for Cleveland, which is expected to send lefty Joey Cantillo to the mound, while the Cubs are projected to send Cade Horton in the Cubs vs. Guardians prediction. Last season, the Cubs took all three games in this series at home. Check out more free MLB predictions and picks at Winners and Whiners.
Cubs searching for consistency
Chicago last played on Wednesday as they defeated the Angels 6-2 to win their series 2-1. However, the Cubs have not won two in a row yet in their first two series. In the win over the Angels, Nico Hoerner had a big day with two doubles, an RBI and three hits. Alex Bregman added a hit and an RBI.
Bregman was one of the team's big off-season acquisitions. He's hitting .208 with two homers and three RBIs thus far, but the third baseman is a solid hitter, who produced 18 homers and 62 RBIs in 433 at-bats for Boston last season. He has five seasons of 20 or more home runs and two of 30 or more.
Right-hander Cade Horton (1-0, 2.84 ERA) is expected to get the start. His first start of the season came against Washington on March 28 and he pitched well, allowing just two runs in 6.1 innings. Last season, he was 8-3 with a 3.59 ERA on the road and was 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA overall. 
Tough start for the Guardians on the road
For Cleveland to go 4-3 in the first seven games, all on the road, against Seattle and the LA Dodgers, was as tough a task as you can ask for. But Cleveland split with Seattle (2-2) and then won the opener 4-2 over the Dodgers on Monday, before falling on Tuesday 4-1. On Wednesday, they jumped out to a quick lead and held on to beat the Dodgers 4-1.
The Guardians went 89-76 last season, falling in the playoffs to Detroit in three games. This season, star Jose Ramirez (.143, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2SB) is off to a slow start, though he hit his first homer against the Dodgers on Wednesday. Chase DeLauter (.286, 4 HR, 5 RBI) has been red-hot and Gavin Williams had a great start against the Dodgers, going 7 innings and allowing just two hits and no runs.
Left-hander Joey Cantillo is expected to get the nod on the bump. He struggled last Saturday against Seattle, allowing 3.2 innings with three walks and five strikeouts, allowing two runs with 91 pitches. Last season, the former reliever went 4-1 with a 3.21 ERA in 13 starts and 95.1 innings.
Spread Pick for Cubs vs. Guardians
Prediction and Pick for Cubs vs. Guardians
- Chicago Cubs (4 units)
Cade Horton was very good last season and he was great in his lone start against Cleveland, giving up no runs and five hits in seven innings. He also did not get a decision. Give Cleveland credit for playing a difficult schedule and surviving it with an excellent performance against the Dodgers. But Cantillo also faced the Cubs last season and walked three in 3/1 innings. Expect the Cubs to take advantage of the southpaw, who is still trying to control his stuff.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Nick Parsons | +2,504.00 |
| 2 |  Mark Zinno | +1,729.00 |
| 3 |  Rob Vinciletti | +1,001.00 |
| 4 |  Mike Lundin | +572.00 |
| 5 |  Stephen Nover | +258.00 |
Over/Under Pick for Cubs vs. Guardians
- Over (4 units)
The weather may be a factor here with the wind and a potential storm. The Cubs are used to the wind in Chicago, and they've gone over three times in six games. Both teams are struggling somewhat with the bats, but expect them to plate some runs against a mediocre starter in Cantillo.
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