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The Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Chicago Cubs. Check out our MLB odds series for our Dodgers Cubs prediction and pick.
It's a star pitching matchup on Sunday Night Baseball: Walker Buehler of the Dodgers goes against Marcus Stroman of the Cubs.
Buehler carries a 2.12 ERA into this game. He was mediocre in his first three outings of the season, producing a 4.02 ERA in 15 2/3 innings. However, in his last two starts, Buehler has picked up the pace, throwing 14 shutout innings including a complete game against the Diamondbacks in which he walked none and struck out 10. Notably, he hasn't pitched beyond the sixth inning in any start except that complete game.
Stroman has a 5.13 ERA, but he has shown how good he can be. He had two ugly outings in the middle of April. On the 15th of the month, he gave up five runs to the Rockies in four innings. On April 20, he surrendered seven earned runs, eight overall, to the Rays in 4 1/3 innings. However, when Stroman is good, he is elite. He allowed just two hits to the Brewers in five innings on April 10. Three weeks later — in his most recent start — he shut out the Brewers on two hits in seven innings, outdueling Corbin Burnes in a Cubs victory. When considering the Dodgers Cubs odds, you need to look at how high Stroman's ceiling is, even though his floor can be low.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Dodgers-Cubs MLB odds.
MLB Odds: Dodgers-Cubs Odds
Los Angeles Dodgers: -1.5 (-113)
Chicago Cubs: +1.5 (-108)
Over: 7 (-118)
Under: 7 (-104)
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Why The Dodgers Could Cover the Spread
The Dodgers entered play on Sunday with the best record in the National League. They have lost only seven games, the fewest in baseball (tied with the New York Yankees). The Dodgers had a brief lull earlier this season in which they lost three of four against the Diamondbacks and Tigers, but they quickly restored order and swept the San Francisco Giants. Then they swept Saturday's doubleheader against the Cubs in Chicago, dominating with their starting pitching.
The Dodgers have Walker Buehler, their star workhorse pitcher, on the mound in this game. Buehler has clearly gotten better after a sluggish start to the season. They should feel very good about this game for all sorts of reasons. They are very much on schedule this season as they try to win a World Series in a 162-game season for the first time since 1988, something people in the organization are very mindful of as a goal for the franchise. Keep this in mind when you make a Dodgers Cubs prediction.
Also keep in mind that the Cubs are 9-17 and simply aren't very good. They have been hollowed out by last year's fire sale.
Why The Cubs Could Cover the Spread
The Cubs are not a good team. The Dodgers are a very good if not great team. Why pick the Cubs? Simple: Marcus Stroman can shut down the Los Angeles batting order. He blanked the Brewers in Milwaukee a week ago. That isn't easy to do. He outdueled Corbin Burnes. That isn't easy to do, either. Stroman can take charge of this game and overwhelm all the natural advantages the Dodgers have.
When thinking about a Dodgers Cubs pick, also simply realize that the Cubs just got swept in a doubleheader and have lost eight of 10. They are bound to win a game sometime. This is a good spot for them on Sunday Night Baseball.
Final Dodgers-Cubs Prediction & Pick
The Dodgers are the better team and have Buehler on the hill, but Stroman can take command against Dodger hitters who aren't always locked in. Why not go for the Cubs and get a good price?
Final Dodgers-Cubs Prediction & Pick: Cubs +1.5
