Los Angeles Dodgers (10-11) vs. Chicago Cubs (12-7)
April 23, 2023 2:20 pm EDT
The Line: Chicago Cubs +135 / Los Angeles Dodgers -172; Over/Under: -
(Get latest betting odds)
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs meet Sunday in MLB action from Wrigley Field. This will be the final installment in a four-game series. After a split in the first pair, on Saturday the Dodgers put up a five-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers powered out a 6-2 win in the Thursday opener of this set, but lost in a 13-0 blowout in game two. On Saturday Los Angeles scored three runs in the ninth inning on the way to a 9-4 victory. Starter Dustin May logged 5.1 innings with two earned, two hits and three walks.
For the starter job in the Sunday finale the Dodgers will send out Clayton Kershaw. In his four starts so far this year Kershaw is 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA and 26 Ks in 25.0 innings. Kershaw is 200-88 with a 2.48 ERA in 405 career games (402 starts).
Chicago Cubs
Over on the Cubs’ side, they managed 17 team hits and seven runs in the fifth inning alone during the Friday blowout win. On Saturday Chicago was out-hit 11-5 in the loss. Hayden Wesneski put up 4.1 innings in the start with three earned, five hits and a walk.
It’ll be Marcus Stroman for the start on Sunday for the Cubs. This year over four starts Stroman is 2-1 with a 0.75 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24.0 innings. He’s 69-68 in his career with a 3.56 ERA in 208 games (202 starts).
Los Angeles is 43-17 in the last 60 versus the NL Central and 37-15 in their last 52 road games versus a right-handed starter. The Dodgers are 66-30 in their last 96 Sunday games.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are 12-5 in their last 17 at home and 7-20 in their last 27 versus the NL West. Chicago is 3-10 in their last 13 Sunday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably try the Cubs here. Stroman is off to a great start so far. Over his last three outings he’s got just two earned runs on nine combined hits and seven walks in 18.0 innings. Stroman is just 1-1 in that time however, so he’ll need some help from the Chicago bats to get over the hump in this finale. On Saturday the Cubs never had a lead but they were hanging around until the ninth inning. Chicago is going to need to give Stroman some offensive help in order to get a victory in this one. I think they’ve got a decent shot at it.
