Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs odds, picks and prediction

The Los Angeles Dodgers (17-12) are in the Windy City to begin a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs (12-16) Monday at Wrigley Field. The opening pitch is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Dodgers vs. Cubs odds with MLB picks and predictions.

L.A. prevented a four-game sweep in its previous series against the Milwaukee Brewers by winning 16-4 Sunday.

Chicago lost a 13-12 extra-inning slugfest Sunday in the rubber match of its three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. The heart of the Cubs order- Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo-combined for 4 HR and 6 RBIs.

RHP Walker Buehler makes his sixth start for the Dodgers. He is 1-0 with a 3.16 ERA (31 1/3 IP, 11 ER), 0.96 WHIP, 0.6 BB/9 and 8.9 K/9.

• Last outing: No-decision in 6 1/3 IP with 5 ER, 7 H, 1 B and 10 K in L.A.'s 6-5 loss to the Reds Tuesday.
• Career vs. Cubs: 0-1 with a 5.27 ERA (13 2/3 IP, 8 ER), 1.10 WHIP and 4.6 K/9 across 2 starts and 1 relief appearance.

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RHP Kyle Hendricks is on the mound for the Cubs. He is 1-3 with a 7.54 ERA (22 2/3 IP, 19 ER), 1.77 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 through 5 starts.

• Last outing: Loss in 3 2/3 IP with 7 ER, 11 H, 0 BB and 3 K in Chicago's 10-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves Wednesday.
• Career vs. Dodgers: 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA (27 IP, 18 ER), 1.19 WHIP and 4.7 K/9 in 5 starts.

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Dodgers at Cubs odds, lines, picks and prediction

MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.

• Money line: Dodgers -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Cubs +175 (bet $100 to win $175)
• Against the spread/ATS: Dodgers -1.5 (-140) | Cubs +1.5 (+115)
• Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

Prediction

Dodgers 7, Cubs 4

Money line (ML)

As lopsided as this starting pitching matchup is, the -200 tag for the Dodgers prices me out of betting L.A. to win outright.

PASS.

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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

I'm fading Hendricks until further notice. Through April, Hendricks has career-worsts in ERA, FIP (8.32) and WHIP, and his 10 HR allowed are the most in the majors and already matches his 2020 mark in 12 starts.

Hendricks' advanced numbers are impossibly low; Statcast grades him in the sixth-percentile of expected wOBA and barrel%, 12th percentile of whiff% and 39th percentile of hard-hit rate.

Also, since my handicap revolves around the starting pitching duel, I'd like to get my money down on the Buehler vs. Hendricks matchup.

How I'd go about this is BETTING DODGERS -0.5 (-110) for the FIRST 5 INNINGS for 1 unit.

Over/Under (O/U)

Chicago's bats are starting to produce and, since the middle of April, the Cubs lineup is top-10 vs. right-handed pitchers across several advanced hitting categories.

Furthermore, L.A.'s bullpen has been pretty much the only weakness for the Dodgers through the first month of the season.

For instance, Dodgers relievers are 24th in SIERA, have the fourth-highest WHIP and the worst K-BB% in the majors. What I'm getting at is there's a decent chance Chicago's hitters can push this game Over once Buehler exits.

"LEAN" to the OVER 8.5 (-105) for a quarter unit.

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