La Dodgers vs Chi. Cubs Picks and Predictions September 10th 2024

From Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, we have the Cubs and Dodgers facing off in an NL matchup. The Cubs have won two in a row and are 74-70, while the Dodgers are 86-58 and are 1st in the NL West. Chicago is 2nd in the NL Central. The money line odds have the Dodgers at -162 compared to the Cubs at +138. The over/under line is currently 7.5 runs.

First pitch for this one is set for 10:10 PM ET, and TBS will be carrying the TV rights for the game. Shota Imanaga is starting for the Cubs, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto is going for the Dodgers.

Chicago vs. Los Angeles Key Information

• Teams: Cubs at Dodgers
• Where: Dodger Stadium Los Angeles
• Date: Tuesday, September 10th
• Betting Odds LAD -162 | CHC +138 O/U 7.5

The Cubs Can Win If…

Shota Imanaga gets the start for the Cubs today as he faces the Dodgers on the road. He has made 26 starts this season and has a record of 12-3 with an ERA of 2.99. Imanaga’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.02. In his last outing, he pitched seven scoreless innings, picking up the win. Before that, he had given up at least two earned runs in three straight starts. Imanaga has been much better on the road, coming in with a record of 7-1 and 3.37 ERA compared to 5-2 with a 3.89 ERA at home.

So far this season, the Cubs are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which is 13th in the league. At home, they have struggled a bit, averaging just 4 runs per game, which is 25th in the league. However, they have been one of the best road offenses in the league, averaging 5.1 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .240, which is 15th in the league, and they are 17th in home runs.

Over his last five games, Cody Bellinger has gone 6/17 with two home runs and five RBIs. He also has five runs scored during this stretch. As a team, Ian Happ and Isaac Paredes are tied for 2nd on the team with 19 homers, with Happ leading the team with 81 RBIs. Happ is also on a three-game hitting streak.

• The Cubs are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Cubs are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Chicago has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Cubs have an average of 4.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Cubs are 9-1
• Looking back across the Cubs last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Chicago has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Cubs have averaged 9.9 runs per game on offense

The Dodgers Can Win If…

Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the start for the Dodgers today as he faces off against the Cubs at home. He has made 14 starts this season and has a record of 6-2 with an ERA of 2.92. Yamamoto’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.07. In his 14 appearances, he has turned in seven quality starts. Looking back at his last outing, Yamamoto finished with a no-decision after going just two innings and not giving up a run vs. the Royals. Before that, he had gone at least five innings in four straight outings. The right-hander has been much better at home, coming in with an ERA of 7.69 compared to 2.26 on the road.

Shohei Ohtani has been a big run producer for the Dodgers this season, as his 101 RBIs are 3rd in the league and lead the team. Ohtani is also 2nd in the league with 46 home runs. He comes into the game batting .292. Teoscar Hernandez is also a big power threat in the lineup, as his 28 homers are 2nd on the team and 13th in the league.

Los Angeles has been swinging the bats well of late, with Mookie Betts hitting .409 over his last six games, with three homers in that stretch. He also has scored five runs in his last six games. As a team, the Dodgers are 3rd in the league in scoring at 5 runs per game, and they have the league’s 3rd best home run total.

• The Dodgers are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Dodgers are 2-3 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 3.4 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 2-3
• 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

Yamamoto’s Return: A Huge Boost for Dodgers’ Playoff Push

The Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up for a special night as star right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes his much-anticipated return to the mound after nearly three months off due to a rotator cuff strain. Yamamoto, who signed a jaw-dropping 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers earlier this season, will square off against fellow Japan native Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs.

Tuesday night’s matchup at Dodger Stadium promises to be a spectacle, not only because of these two elite Japanese pitchers but also due to the offensive stars from Japan on both sides—Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers and Seiya Suzuki for the Cubs. It’s a game that fans in Japan, as well as Dodgers and Cubs supporters in the U.S., will be glued to.

Yamamoto (6-2, 2.92 ERA) will be making his first start since his injury, and while he won’t pitch deep into the game, the Dodgers are thrilled to have him back in action. “I’m not going to pitch 100 (pitches), but I’m ready,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. His return comes at a crucial time, with the Dodgers already sitting comfortably atop the NL West at 86-58 and gearing up for the playoffs.

A Big Moment for Baseball in Japan

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who shares Japanese heritage, spoke about how important this matchup is for baseball fans in Japan. “Certainly in Japan, people are going to be tuned in and excited,” Roberts said. “It should be a good crowd again, and we expect a good performance.”

The game highlights two of the best Japanese pitchers in MLB, and their duel will undoubtedly draw extra attention. Fans will be watching to see if Yamamoto can return to his dominant form from earlier in the season. In fact, one of his standout performances came against the Cubs on April 6, when he struck out eight batters in five scoreless innings, earning his first major league win.

Cubs’ Imanaga on Fire After No-Hitter

On the other side of this showdown is Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga, who’s riding high after a stunning performance last week. Imanaga (12-3, 2.99 ERA) pitched seven no-hit innings in a 12-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking one of the four no-hitters in MLB this season. He struck out 10 batters while allowing just one walk, showing off his elite pitching skills at just the right time as the Cubs fight to stay in the playoff race.

The Cubs (74-70) have been struggling to find consistency, winning only three of their last seven games. But they kicked off the series with a bang, securing a 10-4 victory over the Dodgers on Monday night. Now, they’ll look to build on that win and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Bellinger and Busch Shine Against Dodgers

Monday’s win was powered by two familiar faces—former Dodgers Cody Bellinger and Michael Busch. Bellinger, who spent his first six MLB seasons with the Dodgers, hit a home run and drove in three RBIs, while Busch went 4-for-4 with three RBIs in an emotional return to his former team. “It always feels good coming back. I have a lot of good memories here,” Bellinger said.

Busch’s four-hit game tied his career high, showing that he’s more than capable of delivering in high-pressure situations. The Cubs’ offense was firing on all cylinders, scoring three runs in the first inning, which was more than they managed in their entire series against the Yankees the previous weekend.

Dodgers Leaning on Ohtani for Historic 50-50 Season

Despite the loss, Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani continues to amaze. Ohtani swiped his 47th base of the season on Monday night, adding to his already jaw-dropping 46 home runs. With just 18 games left in the season, Ohtani is closing in on MLB’s first-ever 50-50 season—a mark that would further solidify his status as one of the greatest players in the game’s history.

While the Dodgers have already locked up a postseason spot, they’re using these final regular season games to fine-tune their roster. And with Yamamoto returning, the Dodgers are hoping to see their pitching rotation strengthened just in time for another deep playoff run.

Cubs Fighting for Playoff Survival

For the Cubs, every game is critical. While they’ve clawed their way back into the playoff conversation after a scorching 9-1 run earlier in September, they’ve stumbled recently, winning just one of their last five games before Monday’s win. They’re still hanging onto slim playoff hopes, and every win matters as they try to catch up in the NL wild-card race.

Both Bellinger and Busch have stressed the importance of road wins during this stretch. “We’re raking on the road,” Bellinger said. “We’ve got two more here, and we go off to Colorado. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”

Key Matchups to Watch in Tuesday’s Game

With Yamamoto and Imanaga headlining this pitching duel, expect a tight, well-fought game. Both pitchers have proven they can dominate opposing lineups, and their performance will be critical for their teams’ chances.

For the Cubs, it’s all about keeping the momentum going with hot bats from Bellinger and Busch. On the Dodgers’ side, they’ll be leaning on Ohtani’s electric season and hoping Yamamoto’s return goes smoothly.

Tuesday’s game between the Dodgers and Cubs is shaping up to be a must-watch event. With two of Japan’s best pitchers going head-to-head, plus star power from players like Shohei Ohtani and Seiya Suzuki, it’s a game that promises plenty of excitement. As the Dodgers prepare for the playoffs and the Cubs fight to keep their postseason hopes alive, this matchup will play a key role in how both teams fare down the final stretch of the season.

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is projected to be the 2nd highest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have the Dodgers coming out on top, and they are our top-rated team in the league today in terms of home runs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is our top projected starter of the day in terms of innings pitched.