If nothing else, a pretty decent starting pitching matchup will go down in the final game of the MLB betting week when Walker Buehler leads the Los Angeles Dodgers up against Marcus Stroman and the Chicago Cubs in ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball telecast. The current NL West leaders will be gunning for a third straight series win after winning four of five since dropping a series to the Arizona Diamondbacks in their most recent trek away from Chavez Ravine. Though the season started out well for the Cubs, Dave Ross’s squad entered this series losers in five of their last six matchups. They can thank the Cincinnati Reds for sucking even worse than them to avoid the basement of the NL Central for the time being. Though Stroman cashed in as a huge +206 underdog on his birthday at online sportsbooks last time out, I don’t foresee lightning striking the same place twice as locked in LA has been of late.
First pitch for the series finale between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs is scheduled for Sunday, May 8, 2022, at 7 p.m. ET from Wrigley Field. This week’s Sunday Night Baseball telecast will air live on ESPN. Bet on MLB odds and player props at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
MLB Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Odds Analysis
The Dodgers continue to be the cream of the NL crop. Dave Roberts’s troops have represented the NL in the Fall Classic three of the last five seasons, and they look primed to do so once again come this October. They just let it be known that the NL West is theirs and only theirs after taking the screws to the San Francisco Giants earlier in the week. The series sweep moved them to 16-7 overall for a better than $200 return on investment. That being said, a majority of the dominance has come at home where they’ve come out on top 10 of 12 times $348. It’s been a different story on the road where last year’s NL runner-ups stand 6-5 -$147. Chicago’s decent start to the season is all but a distant memory. Since logging six wins through their first 10 games, the Cubs have managed just three wins in their last 14 to fall to 9-14 overall. They’re down $230 for the season and stand 4-7 as a host -$226.
Probable Pitchers
Walker Buehler R: The righty enters start No. 5 on a bit of a roll having earned wins in each of his last two starts. It all kicked off with a masterpiece thrown in the desert against the D’backs whom he tossed a complete game shutout against with 10 K while only allowing three hits and issuing zero walks. That was followed up with five innings of shutout ball against the Detroit Tigers. The pair of wins moved him to 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and .232 batting average against. While his 3.11 FIP paints a picture of being a tad bit lucky, it’s still a darn good output! Some would say NL Cy Young award worthy of which he’s currently in the running with a 12-1 rate of return. Hit the over of his K prop if it comes out reduced due to his lack of strikeouts to start the year.
Marcus Stroman R: The Cubs newest veteran addition to the starting rotation hasn’t taken off like fans of the team would’ve liked. Before tossing seven innings of shutout ball at the Brewers to earn his first win of the season last time out, the right-hander had conceded 22 hits and 15 ER through 19.1 innings of his four prior starts. That unforeseen win in Milwaukee just so happened to be the first for Chicago with him toeing the bump. The triumph moved him to 1-3 overall with a 5.13 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and .240 BAA. Could the outing be the sign that positive regression is heading his way? His 4.18 FIP states as such, but I’m bearish on his succeeding against a Dodgers offense that’s ripped righties to the tune of a .243 batting average No. 7 while scoring 4.7 runs per game No. 5.
Dodgers vs. Cubs Prediction
I’m always down to back a rabid underdog, but the Cubs simply don’t strike me as a team that has the intestinal fortitude to take a game like this against the Dodgers in front of a nationally televised audience. The recipe is however there for Chicago to win this one provided its best arms are available out of the pen; mainly Keegan Thompson and David Robertson. If Stroman can build the bridge to those guys and the Cubs own a late lead, they can win this game. That’s a big if however, and it’s not something I’ll want to sweat to close out the week. Los Angeles will deservedly be installed decided favorites to win this game. My recommendation would be to bet the moneyline and run-line together so as to make it a 1-run wager. LA is likely going to come out on top of this one. So be it if it’s by a single run; I’m not laying that chalk to find out!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
