The Los Angeles Dodgers continue their visit to Wrigley Field as they contest the second in a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs. Both teams have been surging recently with Los Angeles winning seven of its last nine, while Chicago has won eight of its last 10. Walker Buehler (LAD) opposes Cole Hamels (CHC) on the hill with the Dodgers Sportsbook as a -115 favorite and the Cubs coming back at -105. The total opened at 7.5 runs.
Standout Stats
- The Dodgers have had peaks and valleys through the first month of the 2019 campaign, Sportsbook the year by winning eight of their first 10, then dropping six straight, and have now won seven of the last nine. Overall, LA is 15-10 SU and 10-15 ATS on the season. Meanwhile, the Cubs stumbled badly out of the gate, dropping six of their first seven contests, but since then they have won 10 of their last 14. Chicago drew first blood in this series, claiming a 7-2 win last night.
- Both Chicago and LA rank in the top half of MLB in runs scored this season, but the UNDER has been the play to make recently. The total has gone UNDER in eight of the Dodgers’ last 10 contests with an average combined score of 6.9, while the total has gone UNDER in eight of the Cubs’ last 11 with an average combined score of 6.27. Last night’s total was set at eight runs and they played to a combined score of nine.
- Walker Buehler makes his fifth walk to the mound this season looking to build off his first quality start of 2019. The 24-year-old was shaky in his first three appearances, sporting an 8.25 ERA, but the Dodgers went 2-1 in those starts. However, he was very strong in his last outing vs Cincinnati, hurling 6.1 innings and allowing one run (unearned) on just three hits while striking out eight in a 3-2 win. The righty has thrown just one inning against the Cubs in his career, in a relief appearance last June, and he was tagged for five runs on five hits.
- The Cubs send Cole Hamels to the hill as he looks to pick up his fourth straight win. The lefty was roughed up for five runs on six hits while walking three over five innings in an 11-10 loss to Texas in his season debut. Since then, Hamels has allowed just three runs and 13 hits without walking a batter over 21 innings in three straight wins. The Dodgers lineup has a .269 batting average over 78 combined at-bats vs Hamels and he will have his eye on Justin Turner, who is 6-for-15 with two extra-base hits off the 35-year-old.
- The Dodgers have an even 3-3 record against left-handed starters in 2019 and rank 17th in the majors with a .236 average vs lefties. Meanwhile, the Cubs have the third-best batting average vs RHP and have an 8-8 record vs right-handed starters.
My Best Bet for Los Angeles vs Chicago
UNDER 7.5
Both teams have been UNDER machines over their last 10 games and two solid pitchers are set to take the mound. Hamels has been very impressive this year since that rough season debut, allowing just three runs over his last three outings while sporting a 0.85 WHIP. Meanwhile, Buehler is coming off his first quality start of 2019, in which he threw a season-high number of pitches. Perhaps he just needed to get some innings under him to get back to last year’s form.
