Angels vs Cubs Picks and Odds – March 31, 2026

Los Angeles Angels

@

Chicago Cubs

Los Angeles Angels Insights

• Los Angeles Angels – Moneyline (+120)
  Among every team on the slate today, the weakest outfield defense is that of the the Los Angeles Angels.
  Explain: Defense is an integral part of preventing (or, in this case, allowing) hits and runs.
• Mike Trout – Over/Under 0.5 RBIs (+220/-300)
  Mike Trout has big-time HR ability (99th percentile) if he makes contact, but that’s usually a big “IF” (30.9% K%). Today, however, opposing pitcher Jameson Taillon struggles to strike batters out (10th percentile K%) — great news for Trout.
  Explain: If he is less likely to strikeout, he’ll be more likely to make contact, which is often hard, home-run contact.
• The Los Angeles Angels have 4 batters in their projected offense today with a high (i.e. over 27%) underlying K% (according to the leading projection system, THE BAT X) (Jo Adell, Logan O’Hoppe, Jorge Soler, Mike Trout).
  Explain: Teams that have multiple high-strikeout hitters will make it much easier for the opposing pitcher to record strikeouts

Chicago Cubs Insights

• Jameson Taillon – Over/Under Pitching Outs
  The leading projection system (THE BAT X) expects Jameson Taillon to be limited in this matchup, projecting a maximum of 84 pitches.
  Explain: A pitcher who is on a pitch count is likely to be pulled from the game earlier, record fewer outs, and generate fewer strikeouts.
• Michael Busch – Over/Under 0.5 Hits (-230/+175)
  This year, there has been a decline in Michael Busch’s quickness with his Statcast Sprint Speed dropping from 26.5 ft/sec last year to 25.65 ft/sec currently.
  Explain: Slow players tend to get fewer hits because they can’t beat out groundballs, fewer extra base hits, and fewer stolen bases.
• The 10% Barrel% of the Chicago Cubs ranks them as the #5 club in the league since the start of last season by this standard.
  Explain: Barrel% measures how often a player hits the ball at the optimal exit velocity and launch angle and is a terrific measure of underlying power.

Betting Trends

• Chicago Cubs – 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline (-150)
  The Chicago Cubs have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline in 84 of their last 164 games (+17.75 Units / 7% ROI)
• Los Angeles Angels – Over/Under 3.5 Team Total (+115/-150)
  The Los Angeles Angels have hit the Team Total Under in 31 of their last 45 games (+16.45 Units / 31% ROI)
• Nolan Schanuel – Over/Under 0.5 Hits (-180/+140)
  Nolan Schanuel has hit the Hits Over in 8 of his last 10 away games (+6.50 Units / 38% ROI)