Chicago Cubs Vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (7/7/22) Starting Lineup, Betting Odds, Prediction
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The Chicago Cubs are currently 33-48 through 81 games, fourth place in the National League Central. The Cubs are +40000 to win their division in 2022 with a .1% chance of making the postseason. Between 2015 and 2020, the Cubs made the playoffs in five out of six seasons.
The Dodgers are the favorite to win the 2022 World Series title at +400, they last won the World Series in the COVID shortened season of 2020, their first title since 1988. The Dodgers are 51-29 in the first 80 games of 2022, first place in the National League West and at -475, are favored to win the National League West, they’ve won nine out of the last 10 NL West division titles.
Chicago Cubs Vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Odds
Under is 6-2 in the Cubs last eight during game one of a series. Chicago is 4-1 in their last five games vs. a right-handed starter. Over is 5-2 in the Cubs last seven contests vs. National League West opponents. Chicago is 4-10 in their last 14 road games. Over is 2-0-2 in the last four meetings between the Cubs and Dodgers. Los Angeles is 49-20 in their last 69 vs. National League Central foes. Over is 4-0 in the Dodgers last four vs. National League Central clubs. Los Angeles is 48-21 in their last 69 during game one of a series. Under is 37-16-3 in the Dodgers last 56 during game one of a series.
Chicago Cubs Starting Lineup
M. Leiter R
2-2 4.85 ERA
2B C. Morel R
DH W. Contreras R
LF I. Happ S
RF S. Suzuki R
SS N. Hoerner R
3B P. Wisdom R
C Y. Gomes R
CF N. Velazquez R
1B D. Bote R
Chicago Cubs Vs. Tony Gonsolin (R)
Patrick Wisdom mashed 28 homers and drove in 61 runs in 106 games in 2021. This year he leads the club in home runs (12), runs batted in (45) and total bases (132). Wisdom has an OPS of .795 and a .475 slugging percentage in 2022. Nico Hoerner is Chicago’s leading hitter with a .307 batting average this season. He has hit eight doubles, three triples and four home runs while driving in 24 in 2022. Additionally, Hoerner has an OPS of .765 with a .420 slugging percentage.
Ian Happ is hitting .283 with 21 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 127 total bases this year. The 27-year-old has knocked in 38 runs with a .460 slugging percentage and an OPS of .842 in 2022. Rookie Seiya Suzuki has hit 12 doubles, a triple and six home runs in his first 148 at-bats this season. Suzuki has accumulated 70 total bases with an OPS of .822 and a slugging percentage of .473 in first season playing in MLB.
Wilson Contreras slammed 21 home runs and drove in 57 runs while accumulating 181 total bases in 2021. This season, he’s hitting .274 with 13 home runs (second on the club), driven in 34 runs and second on the Cubs in total bases with 129. Additionally, he has 17 doubles with a .498 slugging percentage and an OPS of .890, which leads Chicago in both categories.
Tony Gonsolin has been tremendous this season for the Dodgers, helping to make up for the loss of staff ace Walker Buehler. In 2022, he’s 10-0 (tied for first in MLB) in 15 starts (eight quality starts) with a 1.54 ERA, which leads the big leagues. Gonsolin has pitched 81 2/3 innings, striking out 77 hitters while allowing 14 runs this campaign.
Los Angeles Dodgers Starting Lineup
Tony Gonsolin R
10-0 1.54 ERA
RF M. Betts R
SS T. Turner R
1B F. Freeman L
C W. Smith R
3B M. Muncy L
DH J. Turner R
CF C. Bellinger L
LF J. Lamb L
2B G. Lux L
Los Angeles Dodgers Vs. Mark Leiter Jr. (R)
Trea Turner is batting .307 through 80 games this year. The shortstop has 20 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 59 runs batted in and a .840 OPS. Additionally, he has 156 total bases, 16 stolen bases and a .355 on-base percentage. Turner is +1400 to capture the National League MVP in 2022.
Freddie Freeman is hitting .302 with 10 home runs, 50 runs batted in with an .871 OPS in his first year as a Dodger. He has 154 total bases, .489 slugging percentage and a .382 on-base percentage. Last season, Justin Turner hit .278 with 27 big flies and 87 runs knocked in. This year, Turner has 20 doubles, seven home runs, 44 runs driven in, accumulated 107 total bases with a .703 OPS. The veteran third baseman has scored 36 runs while slugging .392 in 2022.
Mookie Betts has smashed a team leading 18 home runs with 42 runs batted in and 140 total bases. The right fielder has also hit 15 doubles, scored 56 runs, slugged .547 with an OPS of .901, which leads Los Angeles this season. The 2018 American League MVP is listed at +1300 to win the 2022 National League MVP. Cody Bellinger has 11 home runs, 31 runs batted in with 107 total bases. Additionally on the season, he has 14 doubles, two triples and scored 37 runs in 2022.
Catcher Will Smith has hit 13 home runs and driven in 38 runs this season. The 27-year-old backstop has accumulated 110 total bases with a slugging percentage of .456 and an OPS of .799 in 2022.
Mark Leiter Jr. is 2-2 in 11 games (three starts) with an ERA of 4.85 this season. The 31-year-old has pitched 29 2/3 innings in 2022 while striking out 31 batters, allowing 16 runs with a 1.247 WHIP.
Chicago Cubs Vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Picks & Prediction
Chicago is 0-4 in their last four vs. National League West teams. Offensively, the Cubs are averaging 4.43 runs per nine innings, 17th in the majors. They are hitting .249 as a team, 12th overall in MLB with an OPS of .727, 12th overall. Chicago’s pitching staff is allowing 5.21 runs per nine innings, 25th in Major League Baseball with opponents hitting .253, 21st overall. Over is 4-1 in the Cubs last five Thursday games.
The Dodgers are 53-18 in their last 71 home games. Los Angeles is averaging 5.09 runs per nine innings, first in Major League Baseball. They have a team batting average of .252, seventh in the league, and their OPS is .762, first in all of MLB. The Dodgers’ pitching staff has allowed 3.28 runs per nine innings, second in the league with opponents’ batting .220 against the team, third in MLB. Over is 6-2 in Los Angeles’ last eight Thursday games.
I’ll go with the Dodgers in this game as they are highest scoring team in major league baseball while the Cubs are in the bottom third of the big leagues in runs allowed per game. Los Angeles covers the 1.5 run spread and earns another home victory in 2022.
