Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Guardians prediction, pick for Sunday 4/5/26

Does this matchup sound familiar? Nearly ten years after that fabled World Series, the Cubs and Guardians are going head-to-head once again. It’s a matchup full of talent that promises to bring excitement as we kick off a Sunday doubleheader.

First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. ET. The Cubs are solid -136 moneyline road favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, while a Guardians home upset is priced at +113. The game total is set at O/U eight runs.

Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Cubs-Guardians game.

Cubs vs. Guardians Preview

First things first, let’s learn a bit more about these starting pitchers.

Edward Cabrera takes the mound for his second start as a Cub. He looked every bit the ace they traded for in the offseason in his team debut. Facing the Angels, Cabrera twirled six shutout innings, striking out five while allowing only one hit and one walk. He brings a unique arsenal, using a changeup as his primary pitch. You’ll also see a big fastball and some bendy breaking balls. When Cabrera has his best stuff going, he’s nearly untouchable.

Opposite him will be another young right-hander, Slade Cecconi. He certainly took his lumps in 2025, his first full season as a Guardian. He gave up a ton of hard contact, finishing in the bottom third percentile among all MLB starters in barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and average exit velocity. That resulted in a 4.30 ERA over his 23 starts, and it didn’t look much better in his first game of 2026. Against the Mariners, Cecconi got lit up for six earned runs on six hits and three walks. Now is the time for him to turn it around.

Chicago’s lineup underwent a makeover at the top, as Kyle Tucker departed for the Dodgers. Alex Bregman came over from the Red Sox to bolster the order and solidify the hot corner. So far, the bats are struggling, but there is too much talent here to be kept down for long. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, and Michael Busch are too strong a core for these poor results to continue.

Cleveland isn’t known for its offense. Typically, José Ramirez is asked to carry the lineup. So far, the rest of the lineup is failing him while he’s off to an atypical start. Except for one man: Chase DeLauter. The rookie, who debuted in last year’s playoffs, is on an absolute tear to start his first regular season. His five home runs lead all of Major League Baseball, and he doesn’t look like he will be stopping anytime soon.

Both teams bring strong bullpens to this one, with a mix of veteran arms and up-and-coming flamethrowers. Daniel Palencia handles the ninth for Chicago and has several veterans in front of him. Cleveland is led by Cade Smith, arguably the best reliever in the league. He also gets support from Shawn Armstrong and Matt Festa, two solid veteran arms. Once the starters leave this game, the boys in the pen will bring it.

Now we know these teams a bit better. What is the best way to bet on this one?

Cubs vs. Guardians Pick, Best Bet

Despite comparable production this season (or lack thereof), this Cubs lineup is significantly more talented than the Guardians’ batters. I also see a serious gap between Cabrera and Cecconi. With both teams likely to play the bullpens a bit safe on the doubleheader, that starting pitcher gap carries a big edge. I expect the Cubs to set the tone for this doubleheader with a convincing win.

Best Bet: Chicago Cubs -1.5 (+129)