Chicago and Los Angeles meet for the third contest of a four-game National League series at Dodger Stadium, so here’s the best Cubs vs. Dodgers betting pick along with the latest odds update on MyBookie Sportsbook. 

The Dodgers opened as heavy favorites following a 5-3 victory over the Cubs this past Thursday. The second game of this series is not included in the analysis, while the Dodgers swept a three-game road set against the Cubs in May. 

The Cubs fought bravely in Thursday’s loss                                        

The Chicago Cubs failed to extend their winning streak to three games last Thursday. After a couple of road upsets against the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-3 and 2-1, the Cubbies suffered a tough loss at Dodger Stadium. Mark Leiter Jr. yielded three home runs through the first four innings, while the Cubs outscored the Dodgers for the rest of the way. 

Chicago has won seven of its previous 11 contests, still sitting 12.5 games behind the NL Central-leading Brewers. The Cubs have recorded the fourth-highest OPS in the majors in the last couple of weeks, hitting .265/.345/.436 with 14 home runs and 32 extra-base hits across 452 at-bats. 

On the pitching side of things, Chicago has some serious injury problems. Marcus Stroman, Kyle Hendricks, Wade Miley, and Adbert Alzolay are all on the IL, so the Cubs’ starting rotation is a complete mess at the moment. It’s Justin Steele’s turn Saturday, but the Cubs might opt for a bullpen day and push Steele for the series finale.  

The Dodgers lean on their pitching staff              

The Los Angeles Dodgers improved to 53-29 and extended their winning streak to four games following Thursday’s battle against the Cubs. Tony Gonsolin pitched seven innings of two-run ball, improving to 11-0 for the season, while Mookie Betts launched a couple of solo homers. 

The Dodgers have gone 8-1 over their previous nine outings, allowing only 22 runs in the process. They boast the lowest ERA in the majors (2.91), while LA’s bullpen sits at 3.31 ERA across 290.2 innings of work in 2022. Craig Kimbrel has struggled a bit lately, so Brusdar Graterol, Alex Vesia, and Yency Almonte picked up a save each in July. 

Clayton Kershaw will take the mound Saturday, and the 34-year-old lefty carries a 5-2 record with a sharp 2.57 ERA, 2.85 FIP, and 1.05 WHIP across ten starts and 56 innings of work in 2022. Kershaw fired seven shutout innings in a no-decision against San Diego last Sunday, allowing four hits and a walk while punching out eight. 

Trends:

Chi Cubs: 

  • 0-7 in the last six games against the Dodgers 
  • 5-11 in the last 16 games overall 

LA Dodgers:

  • 7-1 in the last eight games overall 
  • 10-3 in the last 13 games at home 

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Pick 

The current Cubs have 12 hits, two home runs, and .625 OPS in 53 at-bats against Clayton Kershaw, who’s allowed only six runs in four starts at home this season (23 innings). Chicago will stand a chance only if its bullpen continues to shine. The Cubs ‘pen has already thrown 34.2 innings in July, posting a sparkling 1.56 ERA, 2.93 FIP, and 0.5 HR/9. 

Justin Steele (3-5; 4.13 ERA; 1.43 WHIP) met the Dodgers in May and took a loss in a 7-1 defeat at home. The 26-year-old lefty yielded a couple of earned runs on three hits and two walks through four frames. Steele pitched well in June and has a 2.72 ERA and 3.68 FIP in his last six starts, but I’m going with the Dodgers, who own a .818 OPS in July. 

Pick: Take Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5                                       

The Total:

If the Cubs’ bullpen continues to shine, we’ll see a low-scoring affair. The Cubs will have a mountain to climb at the plate, but their pitching staff has to be at its best against this LA team if the visitors want to upset the odds. 

Seven of the Dodgers’ previous eight contests have seen eight or fewer runs on the scoreboard. They’ve scored exactly five runs four times in that span, so the Cubs’ pitching will be tested properly. 

Pick: Go under