Published Apr 5, 9:42am ET by
Demilade Adelekun - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Apr 5, 9:42am ET
Updated Apr 5, 9:42am ET
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| Cleveland Guardians | +103 |
| Chicago Cubs | -128 |
Shota Imanaga accepted a $22 million qualifying offer in November to return to the Cubs for 2026 after they declined his three-year club option. In his 2026 debut on March 30, he had a 7.20 ERA over 5 innings with 6 hits and 1 homer allowed in a loss to the Angels. Can he have a bounce-back performance?
Chicago is hitting .222 with 6 home runs through seven games. Ian Happ leads with 3 homers and 5 RBI despite a .179 average. Nico Hoerner is batting .292. The Cubs sit 3-4 and lost the series opener in Cleveland 4-1 on April 3.
In his 2026 debut on March 30, Messick shut out the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers over six scoreless innings. He allowed 5 hits, struck out 5, and didn't walk a batter. His 0.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP marked a perfect start to the season. Can he continue this form?
Cleveland is hitting .203 with 8 home runs through eight games. Rookie Chase DeLauter has exploded with 5 homers, 8 RBI and a .346 average through eight contests. The Guardians sit 5-3 and won the series opener 4-1 behind strong pitching.
Against Imanaga, current Guardians batters have limited exposure to the Japanese lefty's arsenal.
Imanaga's track record commands respect. He's been elite for Chicago since arriving from Japan. But current performance tells a different story. His 7.20 ERA reflects command issues that plagued him all spring, while Messick just blanked the Dodgers in his opener. When you're getting plus money on a home team with the pitcher who just shut out the world champions, that's value.
Pick: Guardians +103
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Pick
Guardians +103
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