Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
Sunday Night Baseball features a battle of two of the most historic franchises in baseball as the Los Angeles Dodgers (18-7) travel to Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs (9-17). The first pitch for this game is scheduled for 7:08 pm ET.
After winning the first two games of this series, Los Angeles will look for the sweep on Sunday. The opener was rained out on Friday, but the two played a doubleheader on Sunday, with L.A. winning both games, 7-0 and 6-2.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Mookie Betts had a phenomenal game going two for five with five runs batted in. He also hit his third home run of the season in support of Tyler Anderson’s third win of the season.
Wilson Contreras provided most of the offense for the Cubs as he went three for four with a triple, home run, and two runs scored. Unfortunately, the Cubs’ pitching has just not been able to silence the Dodgers’ potent lineup in the first two games.
Despite playing on the road, the Dodgers are the favorite on Sunday. They are -188 to win while the Cubs’ moneyline sits at +173. The runline features Chicago +1.5.
Dodgers Trying To Remain On Top
At 18-7, the Dodgers not only lead the NL West but they are also tied with the Yankees for the best winning percentage in all of baseball at .720. Still, with the Padres only a game behind them in the standings, every win is crucial in a division that L.A. lost by a single game last season.
Taking the mound for the Dodgers in the finale is young phenom Walker Buehler. This season, he is 3-1 in five starts with a 2.12 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and has 26 strikeouts in 29.2 innings. In his last start, Buehler picked up the win over Detroit, going five innings, allowing no earned runs, and striking out five.
Offensively, the team has been led by outfielder Mookie Betts. In 94 at bats, he is hitting .255/.355/.447 with a team-high five home runs and 25 runs scored.
Betts is no stranger to the Cubs’ starter Marcus Stroman. The two have faced off 37 times, with Betts hitting .216 with four runs batted in.
Other contributors for the Dodgers’ offense include Trea Turner (.260, 20 RBI), Freddie Freeman (.316, 3 HR, 12 RBI), and Cody Bellinger (.200, 4 HR, 9 RBI).
Cubs Trying To Improve At Home
It has been a dreadful start for the Cubs this season. Not only are they 9-17 and nine games behind the Brewers in the NL Central, but they have played lousy at home. In fact, while they are 5-7 on the road, they are just 4-10 at Wrigley Field.
Losers of eight of their last ten games, the Cubs will look to salvage at least the finale in their primetime matchup Sunday night.
On the bump for the Cubs will be righty Marcus Stroman. Signed as a free agent in the offseason, Stroman is 1-3 with a 5.13 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and has 22 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched.
He did pick up a win in his last outing against the division-leading Brewers, going seven innings, allowing no runs, two hits, and striking out five.
After a blistering hot start, Seiya Suzuki has cooled down considerably. He is now hitting .253/.365/.483 with four home runs, 15 runs batted in, and 13 runs scored.
Arguably one of the Cubs’ best hitters has been catcher Willson Contreras. A possible trade chip at the deadline, Contreras is hitting .254/.352/.468 with three home runs, eight runs batted in, and has 15 runs scored. Against Buehler, Contreras is two for nine but does have a home run to his name.
Dodgers/Cubs Betting Prediction
These are just two very different teams at very different levels of competitiveness. The Dodgers are the current favorites to win the World Series (+450), while the Cubs are largely in rebuild mode.
While Marcus Stroman has shown flashes of brilliance in his career, Walker Buehler gives the Dodgers the clear advantage on the mound in this one. Between the pitching and one of the deepest lineups in baseball, this one could get out of hand early.
For that reason, take the Dodgers to not only win but expect them to cover the -1.5 runline as well.
