Rangers vs Cubs Odds, Predictions & Starting Pitchers (April 7)

Odds as of April 6th at Caesars Sportsbook.

Texas vs Chicago Probable Pitchers

In his first start of the season, Marcus Stroman was lights out for the Cubs. The always quotable righthander went six scoreless innings in his season debut, striking out eight. His ground ball percentage was 75%, an excellent mark as he looks to rebound from an up and down season last year.

Everybody knows Stroman is at his best when he keeps the ball down in the zone. Last year, he allowed 1.04 home runs per nine innings, the worst ratio of his career while he had a 51.7% ground ball rate. When he’s at the top of his game, Stro-Show induces ground balls at a rate above 60%.

Eovaldi vs Stroman 2022 Stats

For the Rangers, Nathan Eovaldi looks to bounce back from an injury riddled season that saw him make just 20 starts. The big righty went five innings allowing three runs in his first start of the season and got the decision in a 16-3 Texas romping of Philadelphia.

Rangers Offense Comes Back Down to Earth

No team opened up the season making as much noise on offense as the Rangers, who crushed the run total in the MLB odds on their own in their first two ballgames. They put up 27 runs in those first two games, but have been fairly quiet since.

Over their last four games, Texas has averaged just 2.3 runs scored per game, after putting up 13.5 per in their first two outings.

On the other side, the Cubs have been a little more steady, although, they are coming off their best offensive display of the season, a 12-5 victory over the Reds. Off-season signing Dansby Swanson is fitting in very comfortably with is new squad, leading the team with 10 hits and a. 500 batting average in the early going.

Rangers vs Cubs Pick

Not much is expected of either side this season as both teams are longshots in the MLB Division odds. For Texas, they’ll need the infield duo of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager to produce more than they did last season. Although they both banged out over 25 homers, neither had an OPS above .800 and both batted below .250 for the campaign.

It won’t be an easy day at the office for them or the rest of the Rangers squad when they go against Stroman and his arsenal of pitches. He was lights out in his first game and with seven days off between starts, our prediction is that the rest gives his arm the extra power to mow down a Texas offense that’s struggled since an incredible start.

Pick: Chicago Cubs Moneyline (-129)