Article courtesy OddsShark (@OddsShark)
The Los Angeles Dodgers (44-30) will try to rebound against a non-divisional foe starting on Thursday night when the Chicago Cubs (41-33) visit Chavez Ravine for the first of four games as huge underdogs on the MLB odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Dodgers were just swept in three games by the San Diego Padres on the road, but they have been a much better team at home and sit as -235 favorites for the opener (how the moneyline works).
Cubs vs. Dodgers | OddsShark Matchup Report
Chicago is just three games behind Los Angeles in the National League Wild Card standings after earning a two-game split with the Cleveland Indians following a 7-1 rout as -200 home favorites at online betting sites on Wednesday with ace Kyle Hendricks on the hill.
Fortunately for the Dodgers, they will not have to face Hendricks during this series at home, instead taking on Zach Davies (4-4, 4.66 ERA) on Thursday followed by Jake Arrieta (5-8, 5.45 ERA) on Friday, Alec Mills (3-1, 5.18 ERA) on Saturday, and Adbert Alzolay (4-6, 4.19 ERA) on Sunday. All four of those starting pitchers for Chicago have an ERA over 4.00, and they have a combined record of just 16-19.
Los Angeles figures to have a distinct edge in each of the pitching matchups, which is one reason why the defending World Series champions are such heavy favorites in this spot. Opposing Davies will be unbeaten Walker Buehler (7-0, 2.38 ERA) in the opener, with Tony Gonsolin (0-0, 3.00 ERA), Julio Urias (9-3, 3.99 ERA), and Clayton Kershaw (8-7, 3.43 ERA) rounding out the series.
Surprisingly, the Cubs have won four of the past five meetings with the Dodgers, including a three-game home sweep in the only series between them since 2019 between May 4 and 5 of this year. Los Angeles was outscored 17-9 despite closing as a -160 road favorite or higher each time. The OVER also went 3-0 in that series.
Prior to that three-game set, the Dodgers had won four of the previous five meetings, with the UNDER going 3-2. These teams have split the past 30 meetings as well dating back to the 2016 NL Championship Series, when Chicago went on to win its first World Series title since 1908.
Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for analysis on this week’s top games. As well, the OddsShark Computer serves up daily MLB picks for bettors
