The Chicago Cubs find themselves in the basement of the NL Central standings after dropping two of three in Cincinnati over the weekend. David Ross’s squad has won a total of 12 games through their first 28 tries. Do you know who else has won 12 games within the division? If you said the Pittsburgh Pirates, you’re a winner! The only main difference is that Chicago owns a payroll of nearly $158M while the Buccos clock in at $58M. That right there lets it be known just how disappointing the Cubs have been for their fans, and more importantly those attacking the MLB odds at online sportsbooks. Only five other teams have cost MLB bettors more money to this point of the season. The odds of picking up a win in Hump Day’s series finale with the Los Angeles Dodgers looks all the more bleak with Trevor Bauer toeing the bump for the visitors. He dominated in his pair of starts against Chicago as a Red last season, and I’m of the belief tonight will be no different. LA owns a 4-3 series advantage in the last seven meetings with the over also cashing in at a 4-3 clip.
First pitch for the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. ET from Wrigley Field. The matchup will air live on ESPN. Bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
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Odds Analysis
Though Los Angeles has managed just four wins the last 14 times it marched between the chalk lines, Dave Roberts’s squad still checks in as the odds on +325 favorite to win the World Series. The San Francisco Giants might currently sit atop the NL West standings, but it’s LA that still remains the -455 favorite to win the division pennant a ninth straight time. After managing to salvage a game in the extended series in Milwaukee over the weekend, the Dodgers stand 17-12 overall -$278 but have gone on to win eight of 15 on the road -$228. As for Chicago, it sits four games under the breakeven point costing MLB bettors upwards of $450. The Cubs sit a game over .500 as a host on the corner of Sheffield of Addison where their wagering supporters are down $9 for the season. LA hasn’t won a series since taking two of three from the Padres back on April 18, while Chicago last took home a series when it swept the Mets on April 22.
Probable Pitchers
Trevor Bauer: Bauer has had no problem sliding right into the Dodgers rotation and picking right back up where he left off a season ago. Though the righty suffered his first loss of the season last time out against the Brewers, he still shined in the losing effort after tossing eight innings of 2 ER ball and racking up 6K. Unfortunately for him, the offense was unable to get to Eric Lauer or any of the other excelled arms coming out of the Brew Crew’s bullpen. Through six starts and 40 total innings, Bauer has only allowed 19 hits 7 HR and 11 ER while racking up a fantastic 51:8 K/BB ratio. While his ERA clocks in at 2.48 and WHIP at 0.68, surrendering the long ball has been an issue evidenced by his 1.6 HR/9 average. That said, he’s yet to give up a long ball through five career Wrigley Field starts.
Jake Arrieta: Entering the season, I thought No. 49’s return to the city of Chicago was going to be nothing short of a disaster. So far, Arrieta hasn’t completely embarrassed himself. He’s proven to be serviceable in tossing 31.1 innings of 15 ER ball and logging a decent 28:12 K/BB ratio. He does however enter his seventh start off his worst showing to date after the Reds tagged him for seven hits 3 HR and 7 ER in what amounted to his shortest stint of the young season 3.1 innings. His ERA jumped up to 4.31 and WHIP to 1.31 because of it. Arrieta’s stat line exudes an enormous home/road dichotomy with the righty 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA and .177 BAA at home and a 7.53 ERA and .310 BAA on the road. Even so, it’s pretty safe to assume his streak of allowing just 1 ER in every home start will be severely tested with LA ranked No. 1 in the league against right-handed pitching.
Dodgers vs. Cubs Prediction
While the Dodgers have a bevy of injury concerns up and down the roster right now, they’re still the better of these two teams by a country mile. Chicago has shown me absolutely nothing to this point to lead me to believe it has what it takes to run with the big boys. It doesn’t bat for a high average No. 22, can’t consistently put runs on the board No. 14 and it’s pitching staff has been nothing short of a running joke; both in the starting rotation and bullpen. Save for Kris Bryant, no other bats have shown up. Anthony Rizzo isn’t even batting his weight, and Javy Baez has already racked up 39 strikeouts in 94 at-bats. Bauer’s owned the Cubs throughout his career, and I’ll be betting more of the same occurs once this one’s said and done. Hit the Dodgers on both the moneyline and run-line confidently.
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