Cubs vs. Guardians Prediction, Odds, Probable Pitchers, Prop Bets for Friday, April 3

The Cubs are road favorites against the Guardians on Friday afternoon. | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

The Chicago Cubs are 3-3 to start the season, but are coming off a series win against the Angels. The Cleveland Guardians are also fresh off a series win, beating the defending World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cubs and Guardians will face off in an interleague showdown on Friday. Let's dive into the odds and my best bets for this game.

Cubs vs. Guardians Odds, Run Line, and Total

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

Run Line

• Cubs -1.5 (+150)
• Guardians +1.5 (-182)

Moneyline

• Cubs -118
• Guardians +100

Total

• OVER 7.5 (-112)
• UNDER 7.5 (-108)

Cubs vs. Guardians Probable Pitchers

• Chicago: Cade Horton, RHP (1-0, 2.84 ERA)
• Cleveland: Joey Cantillo, LHP (0-0, 4.91 ERA)

Cubs vs. Guardians How to Watch

• Date: Friday, April 3
• Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
• Venue: Progressive Field
• How to Watch (TV): Marquee Sports Network, Guardians.TV Presented by Progressive, WKYC 3
• Cubs record: 3-3
• Guardians record: 4-3

Cubs vs. Guardians Best Prop Bet

• Cade Horton OVER 3.5 Strikeouts (-136)

The Guardians have had a bit of a strikeout issue to start the season. They have struck out on 27.8% of their plate appearances, which is the seventh-highest strikeout total through the first week of the MLB season. Cade Horton's strikeout rate was at just 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings last season, but he did hit four strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched in his first start of 2026. Let's bet on him to reach four strikeouts again this afternoon.

Cubs vs. Guardians Prediction and Pick

I have trouble trusting the Guardians' offense in this game, despite coming off a series win against the Dodgers. They rank just 28th in the Majors in OPS and 26th in wRC+ through the first week of the season. The Cubs haven't been hot to start the season, but their numbers are far above the Guarians, including ranking 15th in OPS and 14th in wRC+.

Horton also looks like a great candidate to improve on his rookie season when he finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting. He should have a favorable matchup in the second start of his sophomore campaign.

Pick: Cubs -118 via FanDuel

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