Dodgers vs. Cubs Pick
Are the Los Angeles Dodgers going to win a fourth straight over the host Chicago Cubs Wednesday night at 9:01PM EST?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Dodgers are a -112 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Cubs are a small -108 underdog and the over-under is 9.5 runs.
Los Angeles took a commanding 3-0 lead in the series Tuesday night with a 6-1 victory in Game 3. The Dodgers are now 110-58 on the season including the playoffs and 49-34 on the road, while Chicago is 95-75 and 49-35 at home. Los Angeles has won seven of nine in the season series and six in a row.
On the mound for the Dodgers will be Alex Wood (16-3, 2.72 ERA), while the Cubs turn to Jake Arrieta (14-10, 3.53). Wood had a 1.06 WHIP with 151 strikeouts in 152 1/3 innings during the regular season. Wood last made an appeareance Sept. 26 when he gave up two earned runs on eight hits with one strikeout and one walk over six innings in an 8-2 home win over the Padres. He is 8-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 76 1/3 road innings this season. Wood is 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA in two appeareance versus the Cubs this season as he has allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits with 12 strikeouts and seven walks over 8 2/3 innings
On Tuesday, Chris Taylor led the way as he was 2-for-5 with a home run, a triple and two RBIs. Yasiel Puig was 2-for-5 with a run, while Andre Ethier finished 2-for-4 with a home run. Yu Darvish allowed one earned run and struck out seven over 6 1/3 innings to pick up the win. He also drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk. Kyle Schwarber accounted for the lone Chicago run with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Kyle Hendricks took the loss as he surrendered four runs (three earned) over five innings.
Los Angeles is 18-4 in Wood’s last 22 starts and 75-33 in its last 108 games overall.
It has become pretty clear the Dodgers are the superior team in this series, which makes sense given their standing as the team with the best record entering the postseason. Any issues Los Angeles had in late August and much of September have been resolved. A 3-0 deficit in the postseason of any sport with a series format is almost insurmountable odds. Wood could be rusty after such a long layoff, but he’ll also be fresh and supported by the best bullpen in baseball anchored by Kenley Jansen at the back end. Arrieta hasn’t been great in recent starts and shouldn’t be expected to be in top form trying to keep the Cubs’ hopes alive. We like Los Angeles to complete the sweep.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES DODGERS -112
