Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers go head-to-head on Saturday in what is the fourth meeting between them already this year.

That’s because they opened the season in Tokyo back in March, where L.A. swept Chicago despite missing both Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts.

Since then, both clubs have looked dangerous – the Cubs boast one of MLB’s top offenses, while the Dodgers have delivered elite power and pitching depth.

Last night, L.A. claimed a 3-0 win behind six dominant innings from Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2 hits, 0 runs, 9 Ks), a three-run blast from Tommy Edman – his sixth of the year, tying him for the NL lead – and three shutdown innings from the bullpen.

On the mound tonight: Ben Brown for the Cubs, who’s struggled in his first couple of outings back from an injury-shortened rookie campaign in 2024, and Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers, whose electric stuff has been offset by early control issues. Both starters could be vulnerable, especially against lineups this potent.

With two explosive offenses and unsteady pitching on both sides, this matchup sets up perfectly for a high-scoring affair,  and sneaky value on the underdog run line.

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers betting picks and predictions

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Cubs +1.5 (-120)

The Dodgers are 3-0 against the Cubs this season, but the way those games have unfolded doesn't fully reflect the overall strength of this Cubs squad.

Chicago leads the league in runs scored (96) with 92 scored in 13 non-Dodgers games. The Cubs have a healthy .241 team batting average, .339 OBP and .737 OPS. Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki are both red-hot, and Nico Hoerner seems to be reassuming his position as one of the most consistent contact hitters in baseball.

Roki Sasaki gets the nod for the Dodgers, and while he’s immensely talented, he’s issued 11 walks in just 8.2 innings this season.

The Cubs offense is built to take advantage of control issues, especially if Sasaki is limited to just a few innings and the Dodgers are forced to use their middle relief.

Ben Brown's struggles are very real (7.71 ERA, 2.23 WHIP), but even if he falters again, the Cubs have shown they can score in bunches and keep games close.

The Dodgers are coming off their third win over the Cubs already, their offense should be firing tonight and they are deserved favorites, but the +1.5 line at -120 is too valuable to ignore.

Expect Chicago to battle back, especially if Sasaki’s pitch count forces Dave Roberts to go deeper into the bullpen than expected.

Chicago is also due for an offensive bounce back after being shut down last night, and their track record suggests they don’t stay quiet for long.

Over 8.5 Total Runs (-120)

If there's one pick that stands out on the board, it’s the over on tonight's total as everything about this matchup screams offense.

The Cubs are averaging six runs per game overall, and that includes three games against the Dodgers where they’ve been mostly silenced.

Against everyone else? They’re scoring over seven runs per game.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers average 4.8 runs per game with a league-leading 29 home runs.

Neither starting pitcher inspires much confidence to go deep in this game. Ben Brown has allowed at least three earned runs in each of his appearances and has struggled with command and fly balls, bad news against a power-hitting team like the Dodgers. 

On the flip side, Sasaki’s stuff is electric, but he hasn’t gone deep into games and has walked a ton of batters.

The Cubs have been patient and productive against weaker pitching, and the way their offense had been humming coming into this series, they should be dilated in on every pitch and primed to get back to their explosive ways.

If they can get into the Dodgers' bullpen by the fourth or fifth, they could feast on middle relief.

The Dodgers' offense is also due for a breakout. Despite owning arguably the most stacked and deepest lineup in the sport, the Dodgers have scored 5+ runs twice in the last seven games.

They’ve hit for power all season, but they haven’t necessarily fired on all cylinders in one game yet this year.

With Ohtani, Edman, Teoscar, Freeman and Betts all swinging freely, Brown’s tendency to serve up long balls could quickly inflate the scoreboard.

Add in a warm April night at Chavez Ravine, two shaky starters and two powerful lineups, and we’re targeting the over as our most confident play of the night.

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers player props

Shohei Ohtani Over 2.5 Total Hits + Runs + RBI (+125)

Shohei Ohtani was held hitless last night, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, which snapped a long on-base streak. If there’s one thing we know about the three-time MVP, it’s that he doesn’t stay quiet for long. Expect a bounce-back performance against Cubs righty Ben Brown.

Ohtani saw Brown in relief during the season opener in Japan and collected a hit and scored a run.

With Brown’s command and tendency to let innings snowball, Ohtani should get opportunities early in the game, and if the Cubs go to the bullpen early, even more chances will follow.

He’s already got four home runs on the season, and the Dodgers have shown they’re willing to be aggressive with him on the basepaths.

At plus money, this prop offers strong value. Ohtani has multiple paths to cash this number: a couple of hits and a run, or a single big swing.

Either way, this is a prime bounce-back spot for one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball.

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers odds

Chicago Cubs ML	+160
Los Angeles Dodgers ML	-190
Run LineDodgers	-1.5
Total	8.5

Player Home Run Odds

Shohei Ohtani (LAD)	+235
Kyle Tucker (CHC)	+390
Freddie Freeman (LAD)	+425
Max Muncy (LAD)	+450
Teoscar Hernandez (LAD)	+450
Seiya Suzuki (LAD)	+475

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.