Los Angeles Dodgers (9-10) vs. Chicago Cubs (11-6)
April 20, 2023 7:40 pm EDT
The Line: Chicago Cubs -115 / Los Angeles Dodgers +105; Over/Under: +10.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs meet Thursday in MLB action at Wrigley Field. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have scored 14 runs in their last 3 games and 3 or fewer runs in 5 of their last 8 games. The Dodgers are 1-7 this season when scoring 3 or fewer runs. Freddie Freeman leads the Dodgers with 23 hits and 7 RBI, while J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts have combined for 37 hits and 20 RBI. Michael Grove gets the ball, and he is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and 14 strikeouts this season. This will be Grove’s second career game against the Cubs.
The Chicago Cubs have scored 26 runs in their last 3 games and 4 or more runs in 5 of their last 8 games. The Cubs are 8-2 this season when scoring 4 or more runs. Nico Hoerner leads the Cubs with 26 hits and 4 RBI, while Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson have combined for 42 hits and 18 RBI. Jameson Taillon gets the ball, and he is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 16 strikeouts this season. Taillon is 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA and 17 strikeouts in his career against the Dodgers.
The Dodgers are 41-13 in their last 54 Thursday games and 54-21 in their last 75 during game 1 of a series. The Cubs are 11-4 in their last 15 home games and 23-9 in their last 32 overall. The under is 4-1 in Dodgers last 5 overall. The under is 33-16-4 in Cubs last 53 home games. The Dodgers are 11-2 in the last 13 meetings.
The Los Angeles Dodgers offense has been quiet this week, and now they’re throwing out an inexperienced pitcher on the road in Grove. The Chicago Cubs are a team I’ve been talking up since the start of the season, and here they are with 4 straight wins and in the thick of the NL Central. The Cubs are oozing with confidence, and we know this is a statement series for them against a title favorite. Expect a packed house. I’ll keep riding the Cubs.
