Red Hot Cubs Take on Cold Cleveland Starting Monday

• Marcus Stroman starts for New York on Sunday but is winless in his last five starts.
• The total in the Rangers-Yankees game is set at 9.5.
• Cubs are off on Sunday but this red hot club kicks off a Monday series in Cleveland against a Guardians team that had won just one game in their last eight ahead of Sunday.

Rangers @ Yankees

New York may finally be getting their act together.  Their solid record for the season and current state of play has allowed New York to excel in our MLB Daily Rankings.

1. San Diego Padres
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. Minnesota Twins
4. San Francisco Giants
5. New York Yankees
6. Kansas City Royals
7. Baltimore Orioles
8. Chicago Cubs
9. Boston Red Sox
10. Milwaukee Brewers
11. Tampa Bay Rays
12. Houston Astros
13. New York Mets
14. St. Louis Cardinals

Andrew Heaney will start for Texas.  He's 4-11 with a 3.98 ERA.

Heaney allowed one run in six innings and got a no-decision in the Rangers’ 4-3 victory over the Astros on Monday.  Before that he surrendered six runs over 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday.

The player that has given Heaney fits from New York is one DJ LeMahieu, but he's been mostly quiet this season thus far.

Marcus Stroman does not have a win over his last five starts.

Stroman gave up eight hits and seven earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays his last start. He gave up five runs prior to that.

It shouldn't surprise anyone that the total for this game is set at 9.5.

Cubs Continue to Be on a Roll

The Cubs are playing well and we get them facing a Guardians team that has lost seven of their last eight games starting on Monday.  This one will be played in Cleveland, ensuring some good betting value.

Cleveland did go 2-1 last season against Chicago.

On Monday we have Shota Imanaga starting for the Cubs.  He allowed two earned runs over seven innings while striking out 10 to earn the win on Tuesday against the Twins.  Before that Imanaga was not part of the decision.

Cubs Cody Bellinger has not missed in three at bats versus Cleveland slated starter Ben Lively, nor has Mike Tauchman in two at bats.

Lively gave up four runs in five innings to take a loss to the Diamondbacks in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader.