Cooper Albers previews Monday’s MLB matchup between the Chicago Cubs and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Baseball returns to St. Petersburg Monday night, as the Tampa Bay Rays host the Chicago Cubs at the resurrected Tropicana Field.
The Cubs (4–5, 5th NL Central) are coming off a series loss to the Guardians in Cleveland, splitting Sunday’s doubleheader after a 6–5 loss in the nightcap. The Rays (4–5, 2nd AL East) took two of three from the Twins following Sunday’s 4–1 victory in the tenth inning, looking to carry that momentum into their first proper home game since September 2024.
Here’s a look at Monday’s lineup cards:
Chicago Cubs
Nico Hoerner, 2B
Alex Bregman, 3B
Ian Happ, LF
Carson Kelly, C
Michael Busch, 1B
Dansby Swanson, SS
Matt Shaw, RF
Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
Miguel Amaya, DH
RHP Jameson Taillon
Tampa Bay Rays
Yandy Diaz, DH
Jonathan Aranda, 1B
Jake Fraley, RF
Junior Caminero, 3B
Chandler Simpson, LF
Nick Fortes, C
Cedric Mullins II, CF
Ben Williamson, 2B
Taylor Walls, SS
LHP Shane McClanahan
First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. ET. Tampa Bay sits as a -122 home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Chicago sits as a +102 underdog. The game total is set at O/U eight runs.
Cubs vs. Rays Preview
Chicago Cubs
The momentum from Chicago’s run to the NL Division Series hasn’t carried into the early stages of 2026. The Cubs have dropped two of their first three series against less than formidable opponents, squandering their season-opening set against the Nationals at Wrigley Field before faltering in the nightcap of Sunday’s doubleheader in Cleveland.
It hasn’t been a pitching problem. In fact, Chicago starters, particularly, have posted MLB’s fourth-best ERA — 2.93 across 36 innings — this season. The club on Monday hands the ball to veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon, who posted a 3.68 ERA (3.85 xERA) and 1.06 WHIP across 23 starts (129.2 IP) in 2025. In his first start of this season, he navigated an uncharacteristically high four walks over 4.2 shutout frames against the Angels.
But the offense has been completely stagnant, sitting 19th in wRC+ (89) and 21st in OPS (.639). Outside of Nico Hoerner’s .884 OPS and Ian Happ’s four home runs, the club is still scrambling to address the Kyle Tucker-sized hole in the order. Hits will certainly come from a lineup of this caliber, but the Cubs currently need better from Alex Bregman (.602 OPS), Michael Busch (.566), and Pete Crow-Armstrong (.542).
Tampa Bay Rays
Eighteen months after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof of Tropicana Field, the Rays are finally back in St. Pete. They return for the home opener, riding the momentum from Richie Palacious’s 10th-inning, two-run bomb on Sunday that sealed a series victory in Minnesota.
Tampa Bay’s offense has gotten off to a blistering start through nine games, ranking eighth leaguewide in wRC+ (112) and OPS (.732) with the lowest strikeout rate in the AL (18.8%). Yandy Diaz has been a man on a mission, hitting .405 with a 1.137 OPS and a pair of home runs. Chandler Simpson has also swung a hot bat while the club awaits star slugger Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda settling in at the plate.
But it’s been a tale of two pitching staffs for the Rays. Their starters have been sharp as nails, posting MLB’s fifth-lowest ERA (2.94) across 49 innings. The bullpen? It ranks dead-last in ERA (7.98) and BABIP (.359), while allowing a dreadful 1.84 home runs per nine innings.
Tabbed for Monday’s start, Shane McClanahan spun 4.2 innings of two-run ball with four strikeouts against the Brewers last week — his first time on an MLB mound since 2023 after years of injuries. Tampa Bay will bank on some additional length from its multi-time All-Star lefty as it attempts to sort out the misfiring bullpen.
Cubs vs. Rays Pick, Best Bet
After 18 months of rebuilding, the vibes at Tropicana Field should be at an all-time high. The Rays bats should stay hot, while McClanahan dices up the sputtering Cubs lineup — keeping slumping lefties like Busch and Crow-Armstrong on their back feet. Baseball has a way of being poetic; count on a Tampa Bay victory in its home opener.
Best Bet: Tampa Bay Rays Moneyline (-126)