Upcoming Match-ups
Tmrw
25
Apr
7:00 PM
CLE
ORL
+1
-1
199
7:30 PM
NY
PHI
+4.5
-4.5
204
10:00 PM
DEN
LAL
-1.5
+1.5
216.5
Friday
26
Apr
5:30 PM
MIL
IND
+4
-4
224.5
8:00 PM
LAC
DAL
+3.5
-3.5
208.5
10:30 PM
MIN
PHO
+3.5
-3.5
208.5

Dodgers vs Cubs Odds and Picks – Buehler vs Alzolay (May 5)

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in MLB Baseball

Updated May 5, 2021 · 8:25 AM PDT

Kris Bryant admires his grand slam
Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant follows the flight of his grand slam in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, April 26, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
  • The Los Angeles Dodgers are -164 road favorites over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field
  • Walker Buehler (1-0, 3.16 ERA) will start for the Dodgers against Adbert Alzolay (1-2, 4.71)
  • A preview of Dodgers-Cubs can be found below with a pick

The Chicago Cubs swept the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers in a doubleheader Tuesday and now they will try to sweep the three-game series when the teams meet at 7:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Wrigley Field.

Walker Buehler (1-0, 3.16) is slated to pitch for the Dodgers against Adbert Alzolay (1-2, 4.71).

The Dodgers (17-14) have dropped five of their last six games and eight of their last 10 after losing 7-1 and 4-3 on Tuesday. The Cubs (14-16) have won three of their last four games following a stretch of six losses in seven games.

Dodgers vs Cubs Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total at DraftKings
Los Angeles Dodgers -164 OFF OFF
Chicago Cubs +138 OFF OFF

Odds as of May 5th.

Buehler Looks to Bounce Back

Buehler is coming off his worst outing of the season on April 27 against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. He allowed a season-high five runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings, though he did register a season-best 10 strikeouts and issue only one walk.

Buehler is fourth in MLB with a 15.50 strikeout/walk ratio. He has struck out 31 and walked two in 31.1 innings.

Buehler has also been a workhorse, pitching at least six innings in all five starts. That should come in handy on Wednesday after the Dodgers needed nine innings from their bullpen in the doubleheader. Buehler should also be well-rested as he will have had a full week off between outings.

Prior to the no-decision against the Reds, Buehler had made four straight quality starts to begin the season.

In three career appearances against the Cubs, including two starts, Buehler is 0-1 with a 5.27 ERA. He has pitched only once at Wrigley Field, giving up three runs in 5.2 innings.

Cubs Career Stats vs Buehler

Player AB H HR RBI K AVG
Joc Pederson 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Willson Contreras 3 1 0 0 0 .333
Anthony Rizzo 6 1 0 0 0 .167
Kris Bryant 6 3 0 0 0 .333
Jason Heyward 6 1 0 1 1 .167
Javier Baez 7 1 1 3 1 .143
Ildemaro Vargas 5 2 0 0 1 .400
David Bote 0 0 0 0 0 .000

The Cubs have averaged 6.9 runs in their last six games. That came following a stretch in which they were shut out in three of four games from April 25-28.

An A Grade  for AA

Alzolay is coming off the first quality start of his young career, beating the Braves last Thursday in Atlanta.

Making his 10th career start, Alzolay set personal bests with six innings pitched and 94 pitches. He also had six strikeouts and one walk while allowing two runs and four hits.

Topping it all off was Alzolay collecting his first hit with a single off Bryse Wilson.

Alzolay has pitched at least 4.2 innings in each of his four starts this season. His slider has been close to unhittable as opposing batters have a .114 average against the it with a 40.5% strikeout rate.

This will be Alzolay’s first career appearance against the Dodgers. He has never faced any hitters currently on Los Angeles’ active roster.

Dodgers Career Stats vs Alzolay

Player AB H HR RBI K AVG
Mookie Betts 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Corey Seager 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Justin Turner 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Max Muncy 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Will Smith 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Chris Taylor 0 0 0 0 0 .000
AJ Pollock 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Gavin Lux 0 0 0 0 0 .000

After erupting for 16 runs on Sunday in a win over the Brewers in Milwaukee, the Dodgers managed just four runs in 16 innings of Tuesday’s twinbill. Los Angeles was also held to one run in back-to-back games last Thursday and Friday against the Reds and Brewers.

Break Out the Broom

In the first game of the doubleheader, Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (4-3) gave up four runs and four hits in one inning in the shortest start of his career. That came exactly 11 years after he went just 1.1 innings against the Brewers.

David Bote hit a three-run double off Kershaw in the opener then hit a game-ending single off rookie reliever Garrett Cleavinger in the nightcap.

Dodgers starter Trevor Bauer didn’t make it through the fifth inning in the second game.

Fading the Dodgers

It is tough to ever pick against Buehler and I don’t have an overly strong feeling about the Cubs in this one. However, Chicago has been swinging the bats better the last few days and the Dodgers are in a malaise so let’s give a lean the Cubs’ way.

The Pick: Cubs (+138)

Author Image