Texas Rangers vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 4/9/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Texas Rangers vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Sunday, April 9, 2023

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Wrigley Field is where the Chicago Cubs (2-3) will go up against the Texas Rangers (4-2) on Sunday. The pitchers who are expected to start are Jon Gray and Jameson Taillon.

As a squad, the Texas Rangers are putting up 6.0 runs per game, which is 5th in baseball. They have earned a total of 36 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .319. The Rangers have recorded 7 doubles as a unit and have hit 9 balls out of the park. They have tallied 34 runs batted in in addition to 52 hits on the season, while their average at the plate comes in at .265. Texas is slugging .439 and have been called out on strikes 50 times, while drawing a walk on 15 occasions.

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The Rangers hold a team ERA of 3.50 over the course of the season (10th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 61 hitters. They have walked 18 opposing players and their FIP is 3.23 as a squad this year. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 3.39 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.15. Rangers pitchers have conceded 5 home runs and 22 total runs (9th in MLB).

The Rangers relievers have earned a save percentage of 100.0% and has stepped onto the mound in 6 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 7 base runners for the year with 14.3% of those runners crossed the plate. Rangers relief pitchers have come into the game with opponents on base 5 times as well as having 3 appearances in high leverage situations. The Rangers have dispatched 16 relief pitchers to the hill on the year. The relievers have a total of 4 holds this season (14th in the league). They have earned 2 saves this year and have blown 0 of their 2 save opportunities.

The Rangers have converted 69.7% of balls hit into play into outs out of 486 innings, which has them sitting 14th in baseball. The Texas Rangers have accounted for 162 putouts at this point in the season, in addition to 44 assists and 2 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .990 which is 11th in the majors, and have accumulated 7 double plays.

Gray has taken the ball for 963 innings and has tallied 990 K's in his MLB career. His earned run average is 4.50 (481 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.308. He has allowed 939 hits (8.8 hits per 9 innings) and has 321 walks. Gray (60-57 career win-loss record) holds a FIP of 3.91 while he has faced 4,101 hitters in the major leagues.

The Chicago Cubs have compiled a team on-base percentage of .343 and a batting average of .273 for the season. They have been called out on strikes on 38 occasions (29th in MLB) and have totaled 48 hits. Chicago has hit 4 home runs on the campaign as well as 26 RBIs. The Cubs hold a slugging % of .398 and they are scoring 5.60 runs per game (8th in MLB). They have recorded 10 two-baggers, while getting a free base 18 times and scoring 28 runs.

The Chicago pitching staff have given up 24 runs this year while having an ERA of 4.70 (23 earned runs allowed). They have given up 4 dingers and they relinquish 4.91 runs per 9 innings (16th in MLB). The Cubs are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.386 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.53 as a team this year. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.68 (51 strikeouts vs 19 free passes). They have a ranking of 4th in MLB as a staff in total hits relinquished with 42.

Chicago relief pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 28.6% out of their 7 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 2 times in high leverage situations in addition to 4 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 1 save situations, the Cubs have earned 0 holds and also 1 blown save. They sit at 27th in the league holding a save percentage of 0.0%, and they have dispatched 16 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond over the course of the season. Chicago has called on relief pitchers to step onto the hill in 1 save opportunities and they have recorded 0 saves.

The Chicago Cubs have gotten 5 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .984 (21st in professional baseball). The Cubs have racked up 49 assists, 3 errors and are sitting with 132 putouts this season. In their 396 innings played, the Cubs hold a defensive efficiency of 64.8% (28th in professional baseball).

So far in his MLB career, Taillon has conceded 769 base knocks while earning 712 punch outs in 791 innings pitched. Taillon (51-36 record in his career) has earned a 3.85 ERA while allowing 8.7 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered 339 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.216 and a FIP of 3.8. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.67 and he has gone up against 3,298 hitters during his pro baseball career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Chicago

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