The Chicago Cubs host the Cleveland Guardians at 8:00 p.m. ET in the second of a three-game series. Chicago won the first game of the series 5-2 last night. The Cubs are 4-2 in their previous six contests, as the Guardians have suffered five straight defeats.
Chicago has Shota Imanaga on the mound while Cleveland is starting Tanner Bibee. Here is my breakdown of the game and my best bet for the contest on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Guardians at Cubs preview
Chicago has one of their best starters in Imanaga starting tonight. This will be Imanaga’s 10th start of the season and second in the last two weeks. Imanaga only pitched once in May and June, but now will make back-to-back starts. Imanaga allowed one hit through five innings against the Cardinals on June 26. This season, the Cubs have the seventh-best home record in the MLB (26-15).
The Guardians have Bibee on the mound. He is 4-8 this season with a 3.90 ERA. Bible has lost his last two starts but has recorded seven and 10 strikeouts in those outings. In Bibee’s lone career start against the Cubs, he only allowed three hits while totaling nine strikeouts. Jose Ramirez has continued to be one of the best hitters in baseball, batting .305, which is ninth in the MLB.
Kyle Tucker has had a good first season in Chicago, batting .290 with 17 home runs and 52 RBIs. Tucker also has a .926 OPS, the seventh-best in baseball. Pete Crow-Armstrong has been a revelation this season, hitting 21 home runs in his first 84 games.
Guardians at Cubs pick, best bet
In the Cubs’ previous six victories, they have won by at least two runs. You can get the Cubs -1.5 at +129 on DraftKings Sportsbook. If Imanaga can limit the Guardians’ two best hitters, Steven Kwan and Ramirez’s impact in this contest, he should be able to lead the Cubs to their second straight win.
The Cubs have won six of Imanaga’s nine starts this season. Chicago’s offense has been electric, averaging 5.39 per game, second best in the MLB. With Cleveland being 3-7 over their previous 10 games, it is a great spot to back the Cubs at home.