Guardians Aim to Extend Series Lead Over Cubs in Game 2

Cleveland looks to build on 1-0 advantage in weekend matchup with Chicago

Apr. 5, 2026 at 8:03am

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The Cleveland Guardians will take their 1-0 series lead over the Chicago Cubs into the second game of their weekend series on Sunday afternoon. The Guardians, who went 88-74 overall and 45-36 at home last season, will send Slade Cecconi to the mound, while the Cubs, who had a 92-70 record overall and a 42-39 record on the road in 2022, will counter with Edward Cabrera.

Why it matters

This early-season matchup between the Guardians and Cubs features two teams with high expectations this year. The Guardians are looking to build on their success from last season and solidify their position atop the AL Central, while the Cubs are hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 2022 campaign and return to the playoffs.

The details

In the series opener, the Guardians edged the Cubs 1-0. Now, Cleveland will look to extend its lead in the series as it sends Cecconi, who is 0-1 with a 12.46 ERA and 2.08 WHIP this season, to the mound. The Cubs will counter with Cabrera, who is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 0.33 WHIP so far this year.

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 1:10 p.m. EDT.
  • The Guardians won the series opener on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

The players

Slade Cecconi

The Guardians' starting pitcher for Game 2, who is 0-1 with a 12.46 ERA and 2.08 WHIP this season.

Edward Cabrera

The Cubs' starting pitcher for Game 2, who is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 0.33 WHIP so far this year.

George Valera

A Guardians player who is currently on the 10-Day IL with a calf injury.

Andrew Walters

A Guardians player who is currently on the 15-Day IL with a lat injury.

Hunter Gaddis

A Guardians player who is currently on the 15-Day IL with a forearm injury.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to get back out there and try to build on our strong start to the season.”

— Terry Francona, Guardians Manager

“We know we have our work cut out for us against this Guardians team, but we're confident we can bounce back and even up the series.”

— David Ross, Cubs Manager

What’s next

The winner of Sunday's game will take a 2-0 lead in the series as the teams head to Chicago for the final two games.

The takeaway

This early-season series between the Guardians and Cubs features two teams with high expectations this year. The Guardians will look to build on their strong start and solidify their position atop the AL Central, while the Cubs will aim to bounce back and even the series before heading home.