The Chicago Cubs head west to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of their 3-game set. These 2 foes have played each other in the Tokyo Series in March with the Dodgers walking away with both wins.
The first pitch tonight goes down from Dodger Stadium, where the home team has been unbeatable so far this season.
With the Cubs at 9-6 and the Dodgers at 10-4, both clubs are near the top of their divisions and starting the season off strong, but Los Angeles is showing why they're one of the most complete teams in the league — on the mound and in the batter's box.
The bookmakers have Los Angeles as a -218 moneyline favorite, and the run line sits at Dodgers -1.5 at +100. The Cubs are priced at +180 on the moneyline, and the total is set at 7.5 runs with -110 either way.
Here’s what really stands out to us when we look at this game — the Dodgers have won nine straight home games. That’s not fluky either — they’re a perfect 6-0 at home in 2025 and it’s easy to see why. They’ve also won both games against the Cubs already this season by a combined score of 10-4. While it hasn’t even been a month since those 2 games, these teams are already starting to look a bit different now that the season is fully underway.
Freddie Freeman is absolutely locked in at the plate, with 4 taters in his last 5 home games, and Will Smith has at least a hit in 7 straight at Dodger Stadium. At +600, Freeman to go yard again just might be worth a sprinkle, but we’ll talk about some props in just a moment.
As for who’s on the mound, the Cubs are sending out Matthew Boyd, who’s been sharp through 2 starts with a 0.00 ERA, but he’s not going to miss many bats. He only struck out 10 hitters in 11 innings so far, but he’s getting the job done.
The Dodgers counter with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has been strong over 3 games and 16 innings this year with a 1.69 ERA and 19 Ks. He's held opposing hitters to just a .193 batting average, and this Cubs lineup could struggle with his mix of velocity and movement, especially the first time through the lineup. He’s not unhittable, however, as he’s given up 2 homers in his 3 starts already.
Offensively, the Cubs have been fairly solid. They rank 2nd in MLB in runs per game with 6.4 and have been one of the best teams on the road with a 5-2 record. But the pitching hasn’t held up as well as their bats. Their team ERA sits at 4.47, and opponents are hitting .265 against them. That’s a problem when you face one of the most disciplined and powerful lineups in the league with names like Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, and Mookie Betts at the plate. They’re easily one of the most devastating teams with the lumber.
The Dodgers aren’t mashing like crazy — yet — but they’re still averaging a decent 4.9 runs per game and rank 2nd in home runs per game with 2.0. They're also one of the best in the league in terms of strikeouts and walks drawn — they know how to work counts and capitalize on mistakes.
There’s a lot to like about this Dodgers team right now, but it’s hard to look past the Cub’s batters.
The pitching edge clearly goes to Yamamoto, the bullpen is in a good spot, and the offense is rounding into form, despite not being as dominant as we expected. The Cubs can score without a doubt — but the back end of their staff is a bit shaky, and against L.A., that's a recipe for a long night and high pitch counts.
Chicago’s been beating up on lesser teams early, but they’re now running into elite-level pitching and deep lineups. And so far, they haven’t had an answer. We simply don’t see them taking this game unless Yamamoto is way off his game, and that doesn’t typically happen.
BettorsInsider's Prediction: Dodgers 6, Cubs 3
Best Bet: Dodgers -1.5 at +100
We’re backing the Dodgers to stay perfect at home and win by a few runs. Yamamoto should control this game for around 6-7 innings, and the bats — especially Hernandez and Edman — can handle Boyd and whoever follows him.
Don’t overthink this bet. The streak stays alive at Chavez Ravine.
If you’re looking to add a little more flair to your bet slip, prop bets are definitely the way to go and there are a few Dodgers that are trending in the right direction.
Will Smith has been automatic at home. He’s recorded a hit in 7 straight games at Dodger Stadium and he’s currently listed at -185 to get 1+ hit. This isn’t the best odds, but it feels like free money. Freddie Freeman is back in the lineup and swinging with serious power right now, launching a homer in 4 of his last 5 home appearances. At +600 to hit a home run, there’s clear value if you're chasing a bit of a longshot. Then you have Shohei Ohtani who has scored in 6 straight home games, and his over 0.5 runs prop bet sits at -135 — a solid option if you think the top of the Dodgers' order keeps producing.
With these bats smoking hot and the team locked in at home, stacking a couple of these props could be a strong complement to your main bet of Dodgers -1.5