Expect The Dodgers To Keep On Winning Over The Weekend

The Dodgers have started the season off with a bang, going 7-2 in their first nine MLB games.

It was expected.

After all, the Dodgers spent over a billion dollars on players this off-season. Los Angeles made the biggest splash with Shohei Ohtani, but the Dodgers didn’t stop there.

Los Angeles also added Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, an ace starter in Tyler Glasnow, and a power hitter in Teoscar Hernandez. Those three were incredible additions, along with Ohtani, to really elevate them.

Plus, the Dodgers will eventually get some help from the four starting pitchers who began the season on the MLB injured list. Remember Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May? All of these guys could be back before the season concludes, giving the Dodgers so much flexibility and depth at the starter position.

Los Angeles will lead in many MLB team stats this year because of it.

On that note, take a look at our full Dodgers vs Cubs preview for this exciting weekend series between two fierce NL squads.

Walker Buehler Close To a Return

It was announced that starting pitcher Walker Buehler will make his second minor-league rehab appearance on Saturday.

Buehler has been recovering from Tommy John surgery since August 2022. But there’s a chance he’ll join the Dodgers’ starting rotation by mid-April at the earliest. That would be a massive get for the Dodgers, who already have some big names in the starting rotation.

Buehler was one of the best pitchers in the game before his injury. There are high expectations when he returns, and his presence will only elevate the Dodgers in the MLB rankings.

Have Patience With Christopher Morel

The Cubs know what they have in Christopher Morel. He’s an elite hitter with really bad defense.

He’s already hit multiple home runs this MLB season and rarely swings at pitches out of the zone. But he’s also committed multiple errors at third base.

That said, Cubs president Jed Hoyer told The Athletic that they won’t give up on him and believe he’ll get better by playing every day on the field. With the Cubs’ rotation not built for many strikeouts, defense is essential. We’ll see if it backfires or if Morel improves his defense throughout the season.

Dodgers vs Cubs Betting Odds Game 1: ML Dodgers -162, Cubs +148

Game 1

• Friday, 2:20 pm ET
• Bobby Miller vs Kyle Hendricks

Bobby Miller already looks like a true ace. He pitched six innings against the Cardinals and struck out 11, allowing one walk and two hits. Last season, Miller showed flashes of excellence, but this second season, he’s looking elite.

Last year, Miller allowed a .136 ISO and wOBA of .290. He also induced 47.5% of grounders and allowed only 24.2% of fly balls. It’s looking like his stats will improve this season after his start against the Cardinals.

The 25-year-old Miller will face a 34-year-old veteran in, Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks was awful in his first start of the year, allowing five runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings. He also gave up two home runs and struck out two batters while allowing two walks.

Hendricks is typically consistent and finds ways to be successful. But he’s never had overpowering stuff that would put away batters. He relies on success with balls in play, which is not ideal against this Dodgers lineup.

Conversely, the Chicago lineup has four batters near the bottom of the order who struggled to succeed against righties last season.

In the Game 1 Dodgers vs Cubs preview, the Dodgers should escape with a victory by multiple runs. At -162, grab the Dodgers.

Game 2

• Saturday, 4:05 pm ET
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs Jordan Wicks

In the second game of the Dodgers vs Cubs preview, the Dodgers will throw Yoshinobu Yamamoto. While he struggled in his first start of the season in Korea, he looked terrific against the Cardinals on Saturday in his second start.

Yamamoto only struck out five in five innings, but he didn’t walk anyone and gave up just two hits on 68 pitches. He’ll increase his pitch count as the season goes on. But that was super convincing after a pitiful debut against the Padres on March 21.

On the other hand, the Dodgers will have to face their first of two lefties back-to-back. The first one will be Jordan Wicks, who allowed a WHIP of 2.00 in four innings against the Rangers. He also struck out six but still allowed five runs (two earned) in four innings of work. His walks were too high and he gave up a decent amount of power to right-handed batters in that first start of the season.

Facing subpar lefties will be fun for the Dodgers. The projected lineup hit a .230 ISO and wOBA of .356 against lefties last season, and that trend will likely continue this year as the Cubs have many MLB stats leaders.

Game 3

• Sunday, 2:20 pm ET
• Gavin Stone vs Shota Imanaga

Gavin Stone impressed the Dodgers in the Spring. However, his success in the Spring didn’t translate at the MLB level. At least not in his first start this season. He struck out six batters in five innings against the Cardinals. But he also allowed seven hits and three runs with one walk on 85 pitches. He finished with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP.

He’ll face Shota Imanga of the Cubs, who really impressed in his MLB debut. He struck out 42.9% of batters faced and allowed no walks, with a .000 ISO and wOBA of .085. Imanga was everything the Cubs hoped he would be in his six innings against the Rockies.

The one complaint was that he allowed 12 fly balls and didn’t induce a grounder. But those nine strikeouts helped negate that concern.

The Cubs certainly have the edge at home in the finale of this series with Imanaga on the mound. This might be the only chance the Cubs have to win in this series.

For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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