La Dodgers Dodgers vs Chi. Cubs Cubs Picks and Predictions September 9th 2024

At 10:10 PM ET, the Cubs and Dodgers will face off in an NL matchup. This one is taking place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, and the Dodgers are the heavy favorite on the money line at -187. The Cubs are +156 and their NL Central division rank is 2nd. They are 73-70 overall. The under/over line is at 9.5 runs.

Walker Buehler will start for the Dodgers, and he is facing a Cubs team that has won two straight. Chicago will start Kyle Hendricks. Los Angeles is also on a two-game winning streak.

Chicago vs. Los Angeles Key Information

• Teams: Cubs at Dodgers
• Where: Dodger Stadium Los Angeles
• Date: Monday, September 9th
• Betting Odds LAD -187 | CHC +156 O/U 9.5

The Cubs Can Win If…

Kyle Hendricks gets the start for the Cubs today as he faces the Dodgers on the road. He has made 20 starts this season and has a record of 3-11 with a 6.60 ERA. Hendricks’ WHIP for the season is currently 1.51. The right-hander has turned in just three quality starts this year and is coming off a rough outing vs. the Pirates, where he took the loss. In that game, he went five innings and gave up two earned runs, five hits, and one homer. Looking back, he has not won a game since July 18th.

So far this season, the Cubs have been a slightly below-average offensive team, averaging 4.5 runs per game (13th) and batting a collective .238, which is 17th in the league. They have been a better offensive team on the road, averaging 5 runs per game. As a team, the Cubs are 17th in home runs, and their team on-base percentage of .314 is 10th in the league.

Chicago’s top power hitter this season has been Ian Happ, who has 23 homers and is batting just .245. Seiya Suzuki is right behind him in the home run department (19) and is batting .271. Over his last six games, Dansby Swanson has gone 7/21 with two homers and four RBIs.

• The Cubs are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Cubs are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Chicago has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Cubs have an average of 2.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Cubs are 8-2
• Looking back across the Cubs last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Chicago has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Cubs have averaged 9.0 runs per game on offense

The Dodgers Can Win If…

Walker Buehler is looking to pick up his first win since August 21st as he gets the start for the Dodgers today. He has made 12 starts this year and has a record of 1-4 with an ERA of 5.67. Buehler’s WHIP for the season is 1.61. This year, he has turned in just two quality starts and is averaging 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Buehler gave up two earned runs in five innings of work. He finished with a no-decision in the outing. Before that, he had given up three earned runs in three straight starts.

Shohei Ohtani has been one of the top power threats in the league this season, as his 46 home runs are 2nd in the league and the most on the Dodgers. Ohtani is also 3rd in the league with 101 RBIs. He comes into the game with a batting average of .291. Mookie Betts has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 10/24 in his last seven games, including two homers and eight RBIs. Betts also comes into the game on an eight-game hitting streak.

As a team, the Dodgers are 3rd in the league in scoring at 5 runs per game. They have been especially good at home, also averaging 5 runs per game. Overall, they are the league’s 3rd best home run-hitting team and have a collective batting average of .254.

• The Dodgers are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Dodgers are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Los Angeles has an over/under record of 6-3-1 in their last ten games.
• The Dodgers have an average of 3.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Dodgers are 6-4
• Looking back across the Dodgers last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Los Angeles has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Dodgers have averaged 5.4 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Our lean in this Cubs vs. Dodgers matchup is to take the Dodgers to win straight-up. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is our 2nd highest projected scoring game of the day. The Dodgers offense is our 2nd highest-rated home run-hitting team in the league, and Walker Buehler is 7th in our projections in starting pitcher strikeouts.

Shohei Ohtani Chasing 50-50 Milestone as Dodgers Face Cubs in Key Series

The Chicago Cubs are heading into a crucial three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers starting Monday, but the buzz in baseball right now is all about Shohei Ohtani and his pursuit of a jaw-dropping 50-50 season — something that’s never been done in MLB history. Even though Ohtani isn’t playing in this series, his historic chase is stealing the spotlight.

Ohtani’s Historic 50-50 Chase

Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels’ superstar, is on the verge of doing something no player has ever done — hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in one season. Right now, he’s at 46 home runs and 46 stolen bases, with 19 games left to make history. On Sunday, he hit his 46th homer against the Cleveland Guardians, tying Alfonso Soriano’s 2006 record for most home runs in a 40-40 season. If Ohtani can reach the 50-50 mark, it’ll make him a lock for his third MVP award — and the first to do it primarily as a designated hitter.

Even with all the hype, Ohtani is keeping his focus on what matters most: winning. “I’ll reflect on it after the season,” he said through an interpreter. “Right now, it’s all about winning the game and the series.”

Dodgers Are Heating Up for the Playoff Push

The Los Angeles Dodgers (86-57) are on a roll, having won eight of their last 11 games. They’re sitting comfortably at the top of the National League West, six games ahead of the Padres, and they’ve either won or tied their last nine series. But with the regular season winding down, they’re still looking to lock in that division title and build some serious momentum heading into the playoffs.

Even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is excited about Ohtani’s potential milestone, saying it would be awesome for Dodgers fans to witness a piece of baseball history during the series.

Walker Buehler Back on the Mound

The Dodgers will have Walker Buehler (1-4, 5.67 ERA) taking the mound for the series opener. Buehler’s working his way back from his second Tommy John surgery and has made 12 starts this season. In his last two outings, he’s allowed two earned runs each and is showing signs of getting back to the dominant form he had before the injury.

In six career appearances against the Cubs, Buehler has a 3.86 ERA, so Monday’s start is a big opportunity for him to build on his recent progress and prove he can be a reliable option for the Dodgers as the playoffs approach.

Cubs Fighting for Their Playoff Lives

The Chicago Cubs (73-70) are in the thick of the wild-card race, but they’ve hit a rough patch. After closing out August with an impressive 8-1 record, they’ve now dropped four of their last six games. A tough series against the Yankees saw them manage just two runs in three games, raising some red flags about their offense. This series against the Dodgers could make or break their playoff hopes.

Kyle Hendricks Faces a Tough Task

For the Cubs, Kyle Hendricks (3-11, 6.60 ERA) gets the start. He hasn’t pitched at Dodger Stadium since 2019, and this season has been rough for him. His 6.60 ERA is one of the highest of his career, but he’s coming off a solid outing against the Pirates, where he gave up just two runs in five innings. Still, Hendricks has struggled at Dodger Stadium in the past, posting a 7.71 ERA in three starts. He’s also given up nine home runs in just 38 innings against the Dodgers. To stay competitive, Hendricks will need to avoid letting Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and the rest of the Dodgers’ power hitters take him deep.

Cubs’ Offense Struggles and Road Success

One thing to watch with the Cubs is their offensive split between home and away games. At home, they’ve struggled, averaging just four runs per game, but on the road, they’ve been much better, averaging five runs across 72 games. Cubs president Jed Hoyer acknowledged the weird difference: “Some of it’s probably randomness, but we’ve had the wind blowing in at home pretty much every game this year.” As the Cubs hit the road, they’ll need their offense to wake up, especially against a Dodgers team that’s tough at home.

Dodgers’ Offensive Power

Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ offense has been one of the most dangerous in the league all season long. With Betts, Freeman, and Max Muncy leading the charge, the Dodgers will be looking to exploit Hendricks’ home-run struggles. Betts and Freeman have been crushing the ball all year, and they’ll be licking their chops against a pitcher who’s had a hard time keeping the ball in the park at Dodger Stadium.

Key Matchups to Watch

• Ohtani’s Chase: Even though Ohtani isn’t playing in this series, everyone’s keeping an eye on his pursuit of the 50-50 milestone. Dodgers fans will be hoping to see him make history during their home games.
• Buehler vs. Cubs’ Offense: Walker Buehler is still finding his form after surgery, but he’ll be facing a Cubs lineup that’s struggling to score runs. This game will be a big test for him as he looks to get back to his best.
• Dodgers’ Power vs. Hendricks: Kyle Hendricks has a tough assignment, especially considering his history of giving up home runs at Dodger Stadium. If the Dodgers’ sluggers can get to him early, it could be a long night for the Cubs.

Conclusion: Playoff Hopes on the Line

This series is huge for both teams. The Dodgers are looking to extend their lead in the NL West and stay hot as they head toward the postseason. Meanwhile, the Cubs are fighting to stay alive in the wild-card race.

For Chicago, every game is critical, and they’ll need to find some offensive firepower if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. On the other side, the Dodgers are aiming to keep rolling, with Walker Buehler looking to continue his comeback and the offense ready to feast on Hendricks. This series opener could set the tone for a tight and competitive battle with a lot at stake.