The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, led by the great Japanese import Ohtani, open the 2025 MLB season against the Cubs in Tokyo early Tuesday morning American East Coast time.
The Dodgers rode Ohtani to the title last year, and they’re big favorites to do it again this year.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are trying to get back to the playoffs after missing out the last four seasons.
In the spirit of keeping things local, Chicago will send lefty Shota Imanaga to the hill for this opener against Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Los Angeles.
How are we playing this game with our free baseball betting pick?
MLB Betting Odds
The MLB betting market opened in Los Angeles at -160 on Tuesday, with an over/under of 8.5. Both numbers were holding steady in early betting action.
Dodgers-Cubs Betting Preview
Los Angeles won a ML-high 98 games last season, then rolled through the postseason to its first World Series title since 1988. Then over the off-season the Dodgers threw a ton of money around to keep some of their own talent and import even more. Heading into this season Los Angeles tops every World Series betting board we know of at a price of around +250 and will go off playing against a wins O/U of 104, the highest on that board.
Meanwhile, Chicago won 83 games last year and missed the playoffs again. The Cubs started well enough at 18-12 but played 21-34 in May and June. They later played 18-8 in August to stay within a sniff of a wild-card spot but ultimately came up six games short. Over the off-season Chicago let go OF Cody Bellinger but upgraded by adding fellow LH slugger Michael Tucker. Heading into this season, the Cubs will play against a wins O/U of 86.5.
Chicago actually took the season series from the Dodgers last year, four games to two.
Tuesday’s Pitching Match-Up
This pitching match-up is a rematch of a game played last September at Dodger Stadium, a 6-3 Chicago victory. Los Angeles led that game 3-1 late before the bullpen blew it in the eighth inning.
Yamamoto hit 6/18 on quality starts last season, his first in the MLB. Also, including the playoffs, he hit just 1/8 after coming back from a shoulder injury in September, pitching on a short leash. But he saved his best for last, holding the Yankees to one run through 6 1/3 innings in Game 2 of the World Series.
For the season Yamamoto posted a 3.00 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP, with 22 walks against 105 strikeouts through 90 innings, as the Dodgers played 11-7 with him.
In two starts against Chicago last year, Yamamoto allowed just one run and six hits through nine innings, with two walks against 16 whiffs. The Dodgers should have won both those games.
Imanaga hit 17/30 on quality starts last year, also his first in the Majors, and finished six for his last six. He posted a 2.91 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a 28/174 BB/K ratio through 173 1/3 innings.
Chicago played a marvelous 23-7 with Imanaga last season, which means they were 12 games under .500 without him.
In two starts against the Dodgers last season Imanaga allowed three runs and nine hits through 11 innings, with zero walks against seven K’s. The Cubs won both those games.
Splits With the Sticks
Los Angeles batted .269 against left-handed pitching last season, with a .337 team OBP and an ML-high .458 team slugging percentage. But the Dodgers will be without one key RH stick in Tokyo with Mookie Betts sidelined with an illness.
Chicago slashed .237/.318/.393 against right-handed pitching last year. The Cubs will also start this season without a key bat, with 3B Nico Hoerner still recovering from an arm injury.
Bullpens
The Los Angeles bullpen put up a 3.53 ERA last season, along with a 1.18 WHIP and a 2.69 K/BB ratio.
The Chicago pen posted a 3.81 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a 2.46 K/BB ratio.
MLB Betting Trends
Los Angeles played 36-17 against left-handed starters last year.
Chicago played 69-59 against right-handed starters.
Totals Report
The Overs played 89-68 in Dodgers games last season.
The Unders played 81-75 in Cubs games.
The Overs played 5-1 in Dodgers-Cubs games last season.
