The Tampa Bay Rays host the Chicago Cubs on April 8, 2026. First pitch from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on MARQ.
The Cubs are favored by -104 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Rays are -112 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8 runs.
Find our MLB picks and Cubs vs Rays prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Cubs vs Rays Prediction, Pick
- Cubs vs Rays Pick: Joe Boyle Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+104)
Our Cubs vs Rays best bet is on Joe Boyle to record over 5.5 strikeouts in this game. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Cubs vs Rays Odds
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +152 | 8 -112o / -108u | -104 |
| Rays Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -184 | 8 -112o / -108u | -112 |
- Cubs vs Rays spread: Cubs -1.5 (+152), Rays +1.5 (-184)
- Cubs vs Rays over/under: 8 (-112o / -108u)
- Cubs vs Rays moneyline: Cubs -104, Rays -112
Cubs vs Rays Projected Starting Pitchers
| RHP Colin Rea (CHC) | Stat | RHP Joe Boyle (TB) |
|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | W-L | 0-0 |
| 0.1 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.6 |
| 4.26 / 5.12 | ERA /xERA | 3.18 / 3.22 |
| 3.15 / 1.95 | FIP / xFIP | 1.65 / 3.19 |
| 1.42 | WHIP | 0.88 |
| 25.9 | K-BB% | 21.7 |
| 52.9 | GB% | 43.3 |
| 91 | Stuff+ | 103 |
| 104 | Location+ | 90 |
Cubs vs Rays Preview
The Rays' Joe Boyle has always possessed eye-popping stuff, but he needs that potential to translate into consistent results.
Through two starts this season, Boyle has racked up 13 strikeouts over 11.1 innings, including a dominant 9-strikeout performance against the Twins in his last outing.
Action PRO projects him for 6.1 Ks tonight, giving us a solid 10.3% edge against the market when compared to his current prop line of over/under 5.5, which is good enough to mark this bet with a B grade in our system.
Boyle’s elite velocity remains his calling card. He has already touched 100 mph 28 times this season, the second-most on the Rays' roster. This high-octane heat pairs perfectly with a slider that has held opponents to a measly .164 average in his Rays tenure.
His current K/9 sits at a robust 10.3, continuing a career trend of averaging double-digit strikeouts per nine innings in three of his four MLB seasons.
Cubs vs Rays Pick
The matchup against Chicago provides the perfect environment for an Over on Boyle's strikeout prop line.
While the Cubs' offense has been serviceable, they have struggled to find timing against right-handed power. Chicago currently sports a 20.1% strikeout rate against righties this season and ranks 17th in the majors in wRC+ against them.
More importantly, the Cubs' lineup has shown a tendency to swing and miss at high-velocity fastballs — a staple of Boyle’s repertoire.
Boyle is the definition of a "strikeout-or-bust" pitcher. Given his increased efficiency (only 3 walks in 11.1 IP) and the Cubs' middle-of-the-pack discipline, expect Boyle to navigate deep enough into this game to clear a relatively modest bar.
Pick: Joe Boyle Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+104, FanDuel)
