Heading into the 2022 MLB season, expectations were sky high for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Chicago Cubs? Not so much. So far, both squads are making preseason prognosticators look prescient.
Following Saturday’s dominant doubleheader sweep at Wrigley Field, the Dodgers are riding a five-game winning streak and have matched the Yankees for baseball’s best winning percentage. Conversely, the Cubs have lost four in a row, seven of eight, and have the second-worst record in the National League.
So it’s no surprise to see Los Angeles as a huge favorite on the Sunday Night Baseball odds board. Will the Dodgers keep it rolling behind ace pitcher Walker Buehler? Or can Chicago spring the upset and avoid its sixth straight home defeat?
Props.com breaks down Sunday Night Baseball odds for this prime-time Mother’s Day night showdown from the Windy City.
Odds via WynnBet and updated as of 10:45 a.m. ET on May 8.
Los Angeles Dodgers (18-7) vs Chicago Cubs (9-17)
First Pitch/TV: 7:08 p.m. ET/ESPN
Moneyline: Dodgers -235/Cubs +205
Run Line: Dodgers -2.5 (+105)/Cubs +2.5 (-125)
Total: 8.5 (Over +105/Under -125)
Pitching matchup: RHP Walker Buehler (3-1, 2.12 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) vs. RHP Marcus Stroman (1-3, 5.13 ERA, 1.18 WHIP)
Season series: Los Angeles leads 2-0 after sweeping a doubleheader Saturday by scores of 7-0 and 6-2.
Did you know: Going back to last June, the Dodgers have defeated Chicago five straight times by a combined margin of 29-7.
About the Dodgers
Hits & Misses: Clayton Kershaw pitched seven shutout innings in the opener of Saturday’s twinbill. In the nightcap, Tyler Anderson and three relievers allowed just two runs and eight baserunners (six hits, two walks) while striking out 11. That continued a season-long trend of dominant pitching for Los Angeles, which leads MLB in team ERA (2.11) and WHIP (0.93). The next closest teams in each category are the Yankees (2.60) and Mets (1.07 WHIP). The pitching staff also leads MLB in fewest hits allowed (150), fewest homers (15) and fewest walks (57). Opponents are batting a league-low .189 against the Dodgers.
On the Mound: Buehler brings a 14-inning scoreless streak into Sunday’s start. On April 25 in Arizona, the right-hander tossed MLB’s first complete game of 2022 in a 4-0 victory, giving up just three hits and no walks while striking out 10. He followed that with Sunday’s 6-3 home victory over Detroit in which he yielded six hits and a walk while fanning five in five shutout innings. L.A. is 5-1 in Buehler’s six outings this season (2-0 on the road). However, the Dodgers are 0-4 in his four career starts against the Cubs, with the 23-year-old posting a 4.56 ERA.
Key injuries: Los Angeles has eight pitchers on the injured list, all of whom are out indefinitely. The team is otherwise healthy.
About the Cubs
Hits & Misses: Chicago has been outscored 45-11 during its 1-7 slump, including 20-6 during its four-game losing skid. Going back to April 19, the Cubs are 3-13 overall and 1-9 at Wrigley Field. One of those victories was a 21-0 home rout of the Pirates on April 23. Otherwise, Chicago has tallied a total of 33 runs in 15 games, scoring two runs or fewer 10 times. Take out the 21-run outburst against Pittsburgh, and the Cubs are averaging just 3.2 runs per game. The only thing keeping Chicago out of last place in the NL Central? The 4-23 Reds.
On the Mound: Stroman is coming off his most impressive performance of the season. He hurled seven shutout innings in a 2-0 win at Milwaukee a week ago, allowing just two hits and a walk while recording five strikeouts. In his three previous starts, Stroman gave up 16 runs (14 earned) in 14.1 innings. Despite last Sunday’s victory, Chicago is just 2-7 in the right-hander’s last eight trips to the mound. On the bright side, Stroman is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers. That includes a 7-2 victory in L.A. last season when he was with the Mets.
Key injuries: 3B Patrick Wisdom left the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader with an ankle injury and is questionable Sunday. LF Clint Frazier (appendix) and SS Andrelton Simmons (shoulder) also remain out. Simmons, who hasn’t played all season, began a rehab assignment Saturday.
Notable Trends
- LA is 7-3 in its last 10 road games (all as a favorite)
- LA is 44-15 in its last 59 vs. NL Central teams
- CHI is 15-36 in its last 51 at home
- CHI is 2-8 in its last 10 vs. NL West teams
- Over is 4-1 in LA’s last five overall
- Over is 14-6-2 in CHI’s last 22 at home
- Both of Saturday’s games topped the total, making the Over 5-0 in the last five meetings at Wrigley Field
Sunday Night Baseball Odds and Action
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET SUNDAY: About 90 minutes prior to first pitch, WynnBet has stretched Los Angeles all the way out to a -235 favorite from an opener of -190. Not surprisingly given that odds shift, the action is lopsided in favor of Los Angeles at 81% tickets and 86% money. The total, which opened at 7 late Saturday and ticked up to 7.5 this morning, is now all the way up to 8.5/Under -125. While only 55% of the wagers are on the Over, a whopping 93% of the cash is backing a high-scoring game.
UPDATE 10:45 A.M. ET SUNDAY: WynnBet initially installed the Dodgers as a -190 favorite, with the Cubs at +170. The moneyline ticked down as low as -172 early this morning but is now back to the opening number. The total opened at 7/Under -115 and flipped to 7/Over -115 a half-hour ago before jumping to 7.5/Under -115 moments ago.
Check back prior to first pitch for additional Sunday Night Baseball odds and action updates.