Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Prediction 3/19/25 MLB Picks

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs meet Wednesday in MLB action at the Tokyo Dome. Here’s a Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Prediction. This article will include a Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Pick.

Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview

The Dodgers started the season with a victory, producing four runs on seven hits and taking advantage of the Cubs bullpen. The Dodgers bullpen didn’t allow a run through four innings. It was a solid performance overall and starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed one run and three hits through five frames. Tanner Scott got the save in his first outing with his new team. Shohei Ohtani leads the Dodgers with two hits and three total bases, while Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman have combined for two hits and two RBI.

The Dodgers look to start 2-0 for the first time since the 2020 season. The Dodgers have won nine straight regular season games when scoring at least four runs. 

Roki Sasaki will make his major league debut when he takes the mound today. Sasaki was 30-15 with a 2.02 ERA and 524 strikeouts in four seasons in the JPPL. In seven spring training innings, Sasaki allowed three hits, and zero runs and struck out seven.

Chicago Cubs Betting Preview

The Chicago Cubs scored first in the opening game but got nothing beyond that one run in the second inning. The Cubs struck out nine times in 30 at bats, and their bullpen allowed seven hits and four runs in five innings. Errors from Jon Berti and Matt Shaw didn’t help. Either way, the Cubs have to feel like they let one off the hook. Ian Happ leads the Cubs with one hit and one total base, while Dansby Swanson and Miguel Amaya have come for two hits and one RBI.

The Cubs hope to avoid back-to-back 0-2 starts to the MLB season. The Cubs have scored one or fewer runs in three of their last four regular season games.

Justin Steele gets the ball for the Cubs, and he was 5-5 with a 3.07 ERA and 135 strikeouts last season. Steele is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts in his career against the Dodgers. The Cubs have won six of Steele’s last seven starts. 

Why the Chicago Cubs will win

• The Dodgers have lost three of their last four games as favorites against NL Central opponents following a win.
• The Cubs have won five of their last six games against National League opponents following a loss.
• The Dodgers have failed to cover the run line in six of their last eight games against the Cubs following a win.

Why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win

• The Dodgers have won seven of their last eight games against teams that held a losing record.
• The Cubs have lost eight of their last nine night games against NL West opponents following a loss.
• The Dodgers have covered the run line in each of their last four games as favorites.
• The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four night games against NL West opponents.
• The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in three of their last four night games against National League opponents.

Total Runs Facts

• Seven of the Dodgers’ last eight games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Each of the Cubs’ last four games against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last four games against National League opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in 10 of the Dodgers’ last 13 night games against National League opponents.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Injury Report 

The Cubs won’t have Javier Assad, Nico Hoerner, Brandon Birdsell, and Brett Bateman. 

The Dodgers will again be without Mookie Betts due to an illness, while Freddie Freeman is questionable with a rib issue. Freeman says there’s a “75 percent chance” he’ll play on Wednesday. Check for injury updates before betting. 

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Prediction

I’m not a fan of backing pitchers making their big league debut because you have no idea what to expect. However, this is a bit different because Sasaki will be comfortable pitching in Japan. It’s like he never left. 

The Cubs may be less sloppy with a game under their belt, but it’s hard to follow up after what happened in the first game. The Cubs couldn’t make good contact and the fielding was a mess. Who knows what to expect going up against a pitcher they’ve never seen. Steele doesn’t have the upside of Imanaga, so chasing the plus money isn’t as valuable. There’s also a decent chance Freeman returns to the lineup which makes the Dodgers that much scarier. The price is somewhat reasonable. I’ll roll with the Dodgers starting 2-0 for the first time since the COVID season.