National League pennant contenders collide when the Dodgers and Cubs begin a three-game series at the Friendly Confines Tuesday night. Both teams come in hot, following slow starts to this season. Which way are we going here for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Tuesday’s MLB betting odds opened LA and Maeda at around -115 over Chicago and Quintana, but early betting action then pushed the Cubs into -110 favorites.
Dodgers vs. Cubs Set-Up
LA just took three of four games from the Brewers in Milwaukee over the weekend, securing the series victory Sunday with a 6-5 win. The Dodgers then enjoyed Monday off.
Just before that Los Angeles swept three games from the Reds in Cincinnati. So the Dodgers are 7-1 over their last eight games.
At 15-9 overall LA leads the NL West by 2.5 games over Arizona and San Diego.
Chicago, meanwhile, just took two of three games at home from the Diamondbacks, securing the series victory with a 2-1 walk-off win Sunday. The Cubs then also had Monday off.
Just before that Chicago swept three games from the Marlins in Miami. So the Cubs are 5-1 over their last six games.
At 10-10 overall Chicago trails division-leading Pittsburgh and St. Louis by two games in the NL Central.
This series is the first meeting between these teams this season. Last season Chicago took four of seven games from Los Angeles.
Tuesday’s Starting Arms
Lefty Quintana is 2/3 on quality starts this season. Last Tuesday he tossed seven innings of six-hit, shutout ball, with seven strikeouts, in a 4-0 Cubs victory over Miami. And just before that, he threw seven innings of four-hit, shutout ball, with 11 whiffs, in a 2-0 win over the Pirates.
Chicago is 2-1 with Quintana this season.
In his only start, last year against the Dodgers Quintana allowed three runs and seven hits through 5 1/3 frames of an 11-5 Cubs victory.
Maeda is 2/4 on quality starts this season. Thirteen days ago St. Louis got him for five runs through 5 1/3 innings of a 7-2 Los Angeles loss, but he bounced back last Tuesday to hold the Reds to one run and four hits through 6 2/3 innings of a 6-1 Dodgers win.
LA is 3-1 with Maeda this season.
In two starts last season against the Cubs Maeda allowed three runs and eight hits through 10 2/3 innings. The Dodgers won both those games.
Tuesday’s Batting Splits
Los Angeles is batting .247/.353/.462 against left-handed pitching this season.
Chicago is batting .268/.364/.442 against right-handed pitching this season.
The Bullpens
The Dodgers bullpen owns a rather generous 4.81 ERA this season, but a 1.23 WHIP and an 86/24 strikeouts/walks ratio.
The Cubs bullpen owns an even-shakier 5.08 ERA, a 1.65 WHIP and a 74/41 K/BB ratio.
Totals Report
- The totals are split 12-12 in Dodgers games this season, but the unders are 8-1 over their last nine games, mainly because LA pitching has held six of its last eight opponents to three runs or less.
- The totals are split 10-10 in Cubs games this season, but the unders are 8-2 over their last 10 games, mainly because Chicago pitching has held seven of its last nine opponents to two runs or less.
- The unders are 6-2 in games played at Wrigley Field this season.
- The unders finished 4-3 in Dodgers-Cubs games last season.
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Dodgers at Cubs Prediction 04/23/2019
