- Matchup: Chicago Cubs vs Tampa Bay Rays
- Event Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
- Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
- Broadcasting: MLB.TV
- Betting Odds: Chicago (+162) Tampa Bay (-196)
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The Chicago Cubs (4-5) are set to travel to Tropicana Field on Tuesday for a face-off against the Tampa Bay Rays (4-5). The betting lines indicate the Cubs at +162 and the Rays at -196, with an over/under total of 8.5. Starting pitchers for the game are Javier Assad and Drew Rasmussen.
The Cubs have hit 10 doubles and launched 9 home runs this season. With a slugging percentage of .334, they have struck out 81 times while drawing 40 walks. On average, the Cubs are scoring 4.1 runs per game, placing them 16th in MLB. They have tallied 35 RBIs and recorded 59 hits, yielding a batting average of .206. Additionally, they have accumulated 37 runs and possess an on-base percentage (OBP) of .304.
For the season, the Cubs’ pitching unit boasts a team ERA of 3.53, ranking 10th in the league, with a total of 75 strikeouts recorded. They have allowed 10 home runs and given up 34 runs in total, placing them 6th in the MLB. The pitchers have issued 33 walks, leading to a team Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) of 4.31. The Cubs have allowed 59 hits (6.7 per 9 innings) with 31 of them being earned runs. Their strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 2.27, complemented by a WHIP of 1.16.
So far this season, they have successfully converted 2 out of 5 save opportunities but blown 3 saves. The bullpen has inherited 19 runners, with 36.8% scoring. Cubs relief pitchers have been utilized in 11 situations with runners on base and have had 10 high leverage appearances. In total, 27 relievers have stepped to the mound for the Cubs, who currently hold 1 hold (29th in the league).
The Cubs have completed 237 putouts this season, alongside 84 assists and 3 errors, achieving a fielding percentage of .991, ranking 8th across Major League Baseball. They have turned 7 double plays and converted 74.6% of balls in play into outs across 711 innings, placing them 3rd in the league.
Javier Assad has logged 331 innings in his career, accumulating 271 strikeouts. With an earned run average of 3.43 (allowing 126 earned runs), his WHIP stands at 1.329. He has given up 304 hits (8.3 hits per 9 innings) and issued 136 walks. Assad has an 18-12 career record and a FIP of 3.37 while facing 1,406 hitters.
The Rays boast a team slugging percentage of .391 and average 5.00 runs per game, securing them 8th in the MLB. They have hit 13 doubles, drawn 33 walks, and scored a total of 45 runs. With 8 home runs this season, they have also garnered 42 RBIs. However, they have recorded 69 strikeouts (28th in MLB) and amassed 86 hits, leading to an OBP of .342 and a batting average of .265.
The Rays own a team WHIP of 1.178, with a cumulative FIP of 4.35 this season. They rank 9th in the league in hits allowed, with a total of 65. The team has conceded 50 runs while maintaining an ERA of 4.72 (allowing 41 earned runs). Their strikeout-to-walk ratio is an impressive 8.00 (70 strikeouts to 27 walks) and they have allowed 11 home runs, averaging 5.76 runs per 9 innings (27th in MLB).
Ranking 26th in the league, their save percentage stands at 50.0%, with 28 different relievers utilized this season. They have appeared 15 times in high leverage scenarios and on 9 occasions with runners on base. Of their 8 save opportunities, they have achieved 4 holds but suffered from 2 blown saves.
Defensively, the Tampa Bay Rays have turned 4 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .959 (30th in the league). They’ve accumulated 71 assists, committed 13 errors, and have completed 235 putouts over the course of the season. Their defensive efficiency stands at 71.7%, ranking 10th overall this season.
In his professional career, Drew Rasmussen has allowed 378 hits while striking out 438 batters across 470 innings. With a career record of 30-17, he has achieved a 2.87 ERA, allowing 7.2 hits per nine innings pitched. Rasmussen has surrendered 150 earned runs, holds a WHIP of 1.059, and a FIP of 2.8, alongside a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.65 after facing 1,880 batters.
Who will triumph in tonight’s matchup, covering the spread or winning outright?
Recommendation: Bet on Chicago (+162)
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