Cubs vs Dodgers Picks and Predictions: Cubs Can't Club Kershaw

The Los Angeles Dodgers will look to secure a series victory over the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night. 

The Dodgers took the first two games of this four-game set, and will now send Clayton Kershaw to the bump in this spot. Are the Cubs worth a wager as sizable underdogs on Saturday night? 

Find out in our free MLB picks and predictions for Cubs vs Dodgers on Saturday, July 9.

Cubs vs Dodgers odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Dodgers opened as colossal consensus favorites of -240, but that number has hardly scared bettors away. Instead, L.A. is now no less than -250, and as high as -270 on the moneyline. 

The current betting total is listed at 8 just about everywhere, bet up from the initial consensus line of 7.5. 

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until first pitch and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.

Cubs vs Dodgers predictions

• Prediction: Dodgers ML (-250)
• Prediction: Under 8 (-113)
• Best bet: Dodgers/Dodgers double result (-113)

Picks made on 7/9/2022 at 10:40 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Cubs vs Dodgers game info

• Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
• Date: Saturday, July 9, 2022
• First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET
• TV: MARQ, Sportsnet

Cubs vs Dodgers betting preview

Starting pitchers

Marcus Stroman (2-5, 5.32 ERA): Stroman will make his first appearance since June 3 in this spot, as he’s recovered from a shoulder injury that saw him hit the the 15-day IL. Stroman has recorded three quality starts in his first nine chances with the Cubs, but threw in some clunkers along the way, giving up five or more runs in three starts. 

Clayton Kershaw (5-2, 2.57 ERA): Kershaw blanked the Cubs through seven innings on May 7 — dropping his season ERA to 1.80 — before hitting the shelf due to joint inflammation. He returned one month later, and, excluding his outing at Coors Field on June 28, Kershaw has a 1.64 ERA over his last four efforts.

Weather

Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.

Key injuries

Find our latest MLB injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Dodgers are 51-20 in their last 71 games against NL Central opponents. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Dodgers

Cubs vs Dodgers picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Moneyline analysis

The Dodgers have won five in a row, nine of their last 10, and are riding an eight-game winning streak over the Cubs. L.A. should ambush Marcus Stroman en route to another victory on Saturday night. 

Stroman was rocked in his rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk in only 2 2-3 innings. His MLB numbers in 2022 don’t offer much encouragement either, as he sports a 5.32 ERA. 

Opponents have an OPS of .952 against Stroman with runners in scoring position this season. This plays right into the hands of a clutch hitter like Freddie Freeman, who owns a 1.090 OPS with runners in scoring position this year. The Dodgers have cashed in on their fair share of RBI chances as a team this year, based on their 4.99 runs per game figure, which is second in baseball to only the Yankees (5.21). 

Chicago, meanwhile, is plating only 4.03 runs per game on the road, 23rd in the majors. They figure to have their hands full with the ageless Clayton Kershaw, who owns a 2.35 ERA and 26-4 strikeout/walk ratio at home this season. Ian Happ, Andrelton Simmons, and Patrick Wisdom are a combined 3-for-21 (.143) all-time against “The Claw” with only one extra-base hit and 10 strikeouts. 

The Dodgers’ rock-solid bullpen — which owns a 2.82 ERA over the past two weeks — should close the door behind Kershaw and secure the victory. 

The moneyline on L.A. is prohibitive, but there’s no value in a losing ticket. Consider backing the Dodgers on the run line to make a straight wager more palatable, or limit any L.A. moneyline play to a parlay only. 

Prediction: Dodgers moneyline (-250 at DraftKings)

Over/Under analysis

The Cubs’ offense should find it difficult to do their fair share toward an Over play, and that will guide us to a wager on the Under instead.  

Three of Chicago’s regulars – Nico Hoerner, Wisdom, and Christopher Morel – come into this contest cold at the dish. Hoerner is batting .231 to start July, Wisdom is hitting .200 in the same span, and Morel is languishing at .190. Morel really figures to struggle in this spot, as he’s hitting only .213 against lefties in 2022, and .238 on the road. His opposite splits are .292 and .299, respectively. 

L.A. manager Dave Roberts has plenty of reliable options to go to once Kershaw exits, even with Brusdar Graterol on day-to-day status (right-side soreness) after leaving Thursday’s game earlier than expected. Evan Phillips hasn’t allowed an earned run since May 26, a span of 16 appearances. Alex Vesia (3.21 ERA) had Friday off after recording a one-out save on Thursday night. 

But total bettors shouldn’t sleep on the Cubs’ bullpen – even if Scott Effross (2.95 ERA) is unavailable after working two straight nights – as this unit owns a respectable 2.95 ERA over the last two weeks. Mychal Givens has been Cubs manager Davis Ross’ most reliable arm of late, tallying nine straight scoreless outings.

Trend bettors should note that the Under is 8-2 in the Cubs’ last 10 road games against left-handed starters, and 9-1-1 in the Dodgers’ last 11 games following a win.

Prediction: Under 8 (-113 at BetRivers)

Best bet

Kershaw should outduel Stroman through the first five innings of this contest — if Stroman even lasts that long. And with the way the Dodgers are playing right now, and the trends on their side, it’s also difficult to envision them giving up the lead late. The best way to back the heavily-favored Dodgers is to take them to win both the first five innings result and the final result.

Bettors should expect Justin Turner to jumpstart the L.A. offense, as he’s hitting .480 over the last week of play with a pair of dingers. 

The Dodgers are 39-12 in their last 51 home games against right-handed starters, while the Cubs are 7-19 in their last 26 road games against left-handed starters.

Pick: Dodgers/Dodgers double result (-113 at Caesars)

Pages related to this topic