Chicago Cubs vs Texas Rangers Prediction, 3/31/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Texas Rangers

Date: Sunday, March 31, 2024

Location: Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX

TV: Bally Sports Southwest

Globe Life Field is where the Texas Rangers (90-72 last season) will go up against the Chicago Cubs (83-79 last year) on Sunday. The men taking the mound are Jordan Wicks and Jon Gray.

Chicago had a slugging % of .421 and were called out on strikes 1,391 times, while taking a walk on 570 occasions. They accrued 786 runs batted in in addition to 1,399 hits in the previous season, while their average at the plate was at .254. The Cubs accounted for 269 doubles as a team and hit 196 baseballs out of the park. They racked up 819 runs and held an OBP of .330. As a team, the Chicago Cubs earned 5.1 runs per game, which was 6th in the league.

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The Cubs had a team ERA of 4.08 last year (14th in baseball), and their staff struck out 1,377 hitters. Cubs pitchers yielded 179 long balls and also 723 total runs (16th in MLB). They walked 513 opposing batters and their FIP came in at 4.16 as a squad during the previous year. Chicago gave up 1,328 hits (8.3 per 9 innings) and 651 earned runs. They accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.68 and the pitching staff held a collective WHIP of 1.28.

The Cubs relief pitchers accumulated a save rate of 61.4% and entered the game in 141 save situations. The bullpen inherited 223 runners in the prior season with 27.8% of those players crossed home plate. Cubs bullpen pitchers went to the mound with runners on 136 times and also had 151 outings in high leverage situations. The Cubs had dispatched 510 relievers to the hill over the course of the prior season. The relievers had 83 holds over the course of the prior season (16th in MLB). They accumulated 35 saves last season and did not convert 22 out of their 57 save opportunities.

The Chicago Cubs had a total of 4,306 putouts last season, as well as 1,490 assists and 92 errors. Their fielding percentage was previously at .984 which put them in 19th in MLB, and had a total of 137 double plays. The Cubs converted 69.4% of balls in play into outs out of their 12,918 innings, which had them sitting at 15th in professional baseball.

Wicks (4-1 win-loss record in his career) sits with a FIP of 4.70 while facing 147 batters during his time in the majors. He has surrendered 33 hits (8.6 hits per nine innings) and has had 11 walks. His earned run average is 4.41 (17 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.269. Wicks has pitched in 34 innings and has totaled 24 K's thus far in his career.

The Rangers had a team SLG% of .452 and they earned 5.44 runs per game (3rd in MLB). They recorded 326 two-baggers, while getting a free base 599 times as well as racking up 881 runs. Texas tallied 233 HRs last year and 845 RBIs. They were rung up on 1,416 instances (14th in baseball) and tallied 1,470 base knocks. The Texas Rangers accumulated an on-base percentage of .337 and a team batting average of .263 over the course of last season.

The Texas pitching staff allowed 716 runs over the course of last season while having a team ERA of 4.28 (683 earned runs conceded). They gave up 198 homers and they gave up 4.49 runs per 9 innings (14th in baseball). The Rangers had a team WHIP of 1.268 and were the owners of a FIP of 4.32 as a pitching staff in the prior season. They had a K/BB ratio of 8.50 (1,351 strikeouts vs 491 bases on balls). They were ranked 13th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 1,330.

Ending the season with 146 save situations, the Rangers had 80 holds in addition to 33 blown saves. Texas called on relief pitchers to step onto the mound in 63 save chances and they earned 30 saves. Their relief pitchers stepped onto the mound 160 times in high leverage situations in addition to 163 occasions with base runners. Texas relief pitchers had an inherited score percentage of 31.5% of 273 inherited base runners. They were ranked 30th in baseball holding a save rate of 47.6%, and they dispatched 467 relief pitchers to the mound last year.

The Texas Rangers turned 143 double plays and held a fielding percentage of .990 (2nd in MLB). The Rangers racked up 1,423 assists, 57 errors and earned 4,309 putouts last year. Out of their 12,927 innings played, the Rangers finished with a defensive efficiency of 70.3% (4th in pro baseball).

During his career, Gray has surrendered 1,084 base hits and he has 1,125 punch outs in 1,114 frames. He has conceded a total of 551 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.308 and a FIP of 4.0. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.02 and he has gone up against 4,733 batters so far in his MLB career. Gray (69-64 career mark) has earned a 4.45 earned run average and has given up 8.8 hits per 9 innings.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Texas

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