MLB Baseball BETTING PREVIEW - Los Angeles Angels @ Chicago Cubs

MLB Baseball

2026-03-31 - Los Angeles Angels at Chicago Cubs

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Los Angeles Angels @ Chicago Cubs
United States : Major League Baseball
Tuesday 31st March 2026 - Scheduled 7:40pm EST
12:40am (British Time)

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Preview

Teams may not want to fall too far behind over the next couple of months, but the history of the Major League Baseball season means no one will panic if the start is not as strong as they would have hoped.

The Chicago Cubs (2-2) enter 2026 with a huge expectation to burden, despite playing in the always competitive National League Central. They took the opener of this inter-League series on Monday to square up the season record and the Cubs will be looking to build on that at Wrigley Field.

With the majority anticipating this is going to be a season in which the Cubs could have a big impact in October, the Los Angeles Angels (2-3) come into 2026 with a much more basic level of hope. They have been tipped up to finish bottom of the American League West and that will hurt Angels fans even more knowing what the Los Angeles Dodgers are doing in the City.

The Angels have lost three games in a row as they turn back to Jose Soriano who is making his second start of the season.

The pitcher held the Houston Astros to a couple of Hits in his first start, but Soriano did hand out four Walks and that could be an issue considering the patience this Cubs batting lineup showed on Monday. Jose Soriano finished with a 10-11 record and a 4.26 ERA in 2025, his third season in the Major League, but he will take plenty out of the fact he made thirty-one starts, which is easily the most in a single season in the Big League.

It is the first time Jose Soriano will have faced the Chicago Cubs since July 2024 when he gave up three runs in 5 Innings thrown and was saddled with the loss. That makes his career record 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in three appearances against the Cubs, although that outing in 2024 is the sole start.

Chicago are going to counter with Jameson Taillon who had a rough Spring Training after representing Canada at the World Baseball Classic. He admitted his work on his mechanics had not gone to plan, but the veteran is confident his first start of the 2026 Major League season will be a good one.

Last year was the third spent with the Chicago Cubs and Jameson Taillon finished with an 11-7 record and 3.68 ERA from twenty-three starts after injury held him back. The number of wins, the ERA and the number of starts all dipped from the 2024 season and so Taillon may feel he has something to prove over the coming months.

Jameson Taillon has a 3-2 record and 5.64 ERA in six career starts made against the Los Angeles Angels. The most recent of those was in August 2025 when Taillon held this opponent to a single run in 5 Innings thrown and he earned the decision win on the day.

After the opening win on Monday, Chicago Cubs have won six of the last seven games against the Los Angeles Angels, including the last five in a row.

Prediction

The early outings for all pitchers are going to be erratic as they build up rhythm and the first start is always a challenge.

Experience should help Jameson Taillon after a difficult Spring Training and he may receive enough support from the solid Chicago batting lineup to help his team continue the dominance of this opponent.

The Pick :

Chicago Cubs 6-4 Los Angeles Angels

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Chicago Cubs to Win at -140 with BetOnline