Rays host Cubs in first of 3-game series

Chicago Cubs (4-5) and Tampa Bay Rays (4-5) meet in St. Petersburg, Florida

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:18am

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The Tampa Bay Rays will host the Chicago Cubs in the first game of a three-game series on Monday afternoon at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Both teams enter the series with 4-5 records on the young season.

Why it matters

This early-season matchup between the Rays and Cubs features two teams looking to gain momentum and establish themselves in their respective divisions. The Rays are coming off a 77-85 season in 2025, while the Cubs went 92-70 and made the playoffs a year ago.

The details

In the series opener, the Cubs will send Jameson Taillon (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound, while the Rays will counter with Shane McClanahan (0-1, 3.86 ERA). The Cubs batted .251 as a team in 2025 with a .714 OPS, while the Rays pitching staff averaged 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings while giving up 4.0 runs per game.

  • The game is scheduled for Monday, April 6, 2026 at 4:10 p.m. EDT.

The players

Jameson Taillon

The Cubs' starting pitcher for the series opener, making his first appearance of the 2026 season.

Shane McClanahan

The Rays' starting pitcher for the series opener, looking to bounce back after a loss in his first start of the year.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs enter the series with a 4-5 record, looking to build on their 92-70 campaign in 2025.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are also 4-5 on the season and will be hosting the Cubs at Tropicana Field.

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The takeaway

This early-season series between the Cubs and Rays features two teams looking to establish themselves in the standings and gain momentum as the 2026 season progresses. The outcome of this three-game set could provide an early indication of which team is poised for a strong campaign.