Cubs vs Guardians: Pitching Showdown, Injury Woes

0:00It's April 4th, MLB News Today starts now, AI powered and always on. Chicago Cubs head to Cleveland for Game 2 against the Guardians, who already lead the three-game series, One Nothing. It's set for Saturday at 7.15 PM Eastern, with Shelta Imanaga on the mound for the Cubs at 0 wins 1 loss and a 7.20 ERA. Guardians counter with Slate's Acuni, also 0-1, but struggling harder at 12.46 ERA. Bending odds have the Cubs as favorites at minus 140. Guardians as plus 1-18 underdogs, and the over-unders sits at 8 runs. Both starters have shown some rough patches early, with Imanaga at 1.60, Y.P. and Sikoni at 2.08. Last season, Cleveland finished 88 and 74 overall, solid at home with 45 and 36. They hit just 2.26 as a team. Chicago was 92 and 70, averaging 4.9 runs scored, but giving up 4.0.

1:01Injuries are piling up, especially for the Cubs, Sayas Suzuki on the 10-day with a knee issue, Justin Steele and others on longer terms for elbows, and four arms. Guardians missing a few like George Valera on the 10-day for his calf. This matchup could tighten up with those pitching lines and banged up rosters, so keep an eye on how the series shakes out from here.