Cubs vs Rangers MLB Opening Day Prediction, Odds & Best Bets (3/28): Steele Steals the Show

This Cubs vs Rangers MLB prediction and Opening Day best bets are brought to you by Bovada. Bovada is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from the MLB to the NBA and everything in between.

The wait for more baseball is over as Opening Day of the 2024 MLB season is finally here. Thursday, March 28’s slate is loaded with big-time games, including when the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers (0-0) host the Chicago Cubs (0-0) at 7:35 p.m. ET.

That #OpeningDay feeling.

Narrated by @MikeTrout. pic.twitter.com/tSttif0wlC

— MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2024

All eyes are on the Rangers to see if they can repeat this season after winning the first World Series title in franchise history last fall. Meanwhile, the Cubs hope to return to the postseason after missing the Wild Card cut-off by one game in 2023, marking the third consecutive year where they missed the playoffs.

When it comes to repeating as champions, the Rangers own the sixth-best odds (+1100) to win the 2024 World Series on Bovada while Chicago is available at +3000 (T-15th).

But that’s the future, so let’s focus on the present by getting into my Cubs vs. Rangers MLB prediction and best bets.

Cubs vs Rangers MLB Opening Day Betting (3/28)

Cubs vs Rangers Opening Day Information

• Matchup: Chicago Cubs (0-0, 0-0 Away) vs. Texas Rangers (0-0, 0-0 Home)
• Venue & Location: Globe Life Field (Arlington, TX)
• Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024
• Game Time: 7:35 p.m. ET
• How to Watch Cubs vs. Rangers: ESPN

Cubs vs Rangers Probable Pitchers

• Cubs: Justin Steele (0 starts — 0-0, 0.00 ERA)
• Rangers: Nathan Eovaldi (0 starts — 0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Rangers vs Cubs Odds & Spread

Rangers vs. Cubs Opening Day odds are courtesy of Bovada as of Thursday, March 28 at 10:14 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Cubs vs Rangers Run Line

• Chicago Cubs +1.5 (-210)
• Texas Rangers -1.5 (+175)

Rangers vs Cubs Over/Under

• Over 8.5 Runs (-105)
• Under 8.5 Runs (-115)

Cubs vs Rangers Moneyline

• Chicago Cubs (-101)
• Texas Rangers (-119)

You might also like: Shaggy’s MLB Opening Day Best Bets

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Cubs vs Rangers MLB Betting Trends

• The Cubs are 1-10 straight up in their last 11 road games.
• Texas is 1-4 straight up in its last five games vs. the NL Central.
• The total hit the Over in four of the Cubs’ last five games played in March.
• The total hit the Over in each of Texas’ last five March matchups.
• The total hit the Over in five of the last six Cubs-Rangers matchups.

Cubs vs Rangers Opening Day Prediction & MLB Picks Today (3/28):

The pressure is on for the Rangers to prove that their World Series victory wasn’t a fluke. After all, Texas nearly missed the 2023 postseason as it only finished two games higher than the best non-playoff American League club, the Seattle Mariners.

The Rangers also have some adversity to face after losing several key pieces over the offseason. Although they gained the likes of Kirby Yates, Andrew Knizner, and Tyler Mahle, they also lost Mitch Garver, Aroldis Chapman, Will Smith, and Jordan Montgomery to the open market.

The Cubs, on the other hand, didn’t make many changes to their roster. They managed to re-sign Cody Bellinger — who finished 10th in NL MVP voting last year — to a three-year contract while also bringing in Hector Neris and Dominic Smith.

Chicago did lose a handful of players, though, including Marcus Stroman and Jeimar Candelario.

Former NL MVP Cody Bellinger re-signed with the Cubs on a three-year contract this offseason.

There’s a good chance that we could see a lot of offense this evening. These clubs were two of the highest-scoring teams last season as the Rangers finished third in total runs while the Cubs ranked sixth. Having said that, neither team excelled at limiting opposing runs, proven by Chicago’s 4.08 ERA (14th) and Texas’ 4.28 ERA (18th).

In other words, the Cubs are counting on a big performance from Justin Steele. The left-handed starter is coming off a career year that saw him go 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA and 176 strikeouts over 173 1/3 innings. His efforts were good enough to result in his first-ever MLB All-Star appearance and fifth-place in NL Cy Young voting.

Meanwhile, the Rangers are hoping for the same from Nathan Eovaldi. The two-time All-Star hurler was electric in 2023, pitching to a 12-5 record and 3.63 ERA across 25 starts while allowing a personal-low 7.3 hits per nine innings.

The Cubs are counting on a big performance from LHP Justin Steele on Opening Day 2024. 

Even though the Rangers are the defending champions, I’m taking the Cubs to pull off the upset. Eovaldi isn’t the Rangers’ ace and is only starting because of Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom’s injuries. Meanwhile, Steele was one of the best pitchers in all of baseball last season and even held Texas to one run on four hits in a 10-3 win on April 8.

I’m also taking the Over on the 8.5-run total. The Rangers and Cubs tend to produce fireworks when they collide. Their last six meetings averaged a combined 12.7 runs per game with the Over being reached five times. Additionally, the last five clashes at Globe Life Stadium each finished with nine or more runs.

After both sides were among the MLB’s best offenses last year, I’m expecting a lot of action tonight.

Cubs vs Rangers MLB Prediction: CHC wins

Best Cubs vs Rangers Bet: o8.5 Total Runs (-105)

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Best Cubs vs Rangers Opening Day Prop Bet (3/28)

After his strong 2023 performance, I can’t help but go with Justin Steele o5.5 strikeouts for the best Cubs vs. Rangers player prop bet.

Steele has been a strikeout machine since debuting in 2021, tallying 361 strikeouts across 349 1/3 innings. He was consistent regarding this prop last season, finishing with at least six Ks in 18 of his 30 appearances. In other words, he had a 60.0% success rate.

The Rangers have one of the MLB’s most dangerous attacks, but that doesn’t change how they averaged the 14th-most strikeouts in 2023 as well as the 13th-most Ks at home.

Assuming he’s on his game, I see Steele having a productive night on the mound.