Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction: How Will Marcus Stroman Pitch in Return for Cubs?

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction: How Will Marcus Stroman Pitch in Return for Cubs?

The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their win streak to six after defeating the Chicago Cubs, 4-3 in 10 innings last night.

The Dodgers are now 54-29 on the season and running away with the best record in the National League.

Tonight, the Dodgers will look to get the series win over the Cubs one day early. Will the Cubs be able to hold off the Dodgers on the road?

Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for Saturday's game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.

Dodgers vs. Cubs Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: July 9, 2022
• Game Time: 10:10 pm ET
• Where to Watch: MARQ, SNLA, MLBN

Click Here for Dodgers vs Cubs Odds

Dodgers vs. Cubs Injury Report

Cubs

Questionable: C Willson Contreras (Hamstring) Out: OF Michael Hermosillo (Quadriceps), OF Jason Heyward (Knee), 2B Nick Madrigal (Groin), Frank Schwindel (Back)

Dodgers

Questionable: 2B Chris Taylor (Foot)

Dodgers vs. Cubs Line Movement

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction

The Chicago Cubs will welcome back Marcus Stroman to the mound tonight. Stroman signed a big contract with the Cubs during the off-season and hasn't delivered just yet.

He's 2-5 with a 5.32 ERA on the season and will pitch his first game back since injuring his shoulder.

On the season, Stroman still has a 3.98 xFIP with 22.7% of strikeouts and 6.1% of walks. He's been better than his ERA suggests but has allowed 27% of line drives throughout the season.

Power has also been something that has gotten to Stroman. He's given up a .210 ISO to lefties through his first 105 plate appearances against them.

The Dodgers, on the other hand, have a .177 ISO and wOBA of .327 against righties using their projected lineup in the last 30 days. Will Smith, Max Muncy, and Trayce Thompson have hit for heavy power against righties in that time frame but the entire team is hitting a high amount of line drives, which is something that will hurt Stroman in this game.

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On the other hand, it'll be left-handed ace, Clayton Kershaw, for the Dodgers. He's 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA on the season.

In the last 30 days, however, Kershaw has a 4.41 xFIP with 8% of walks. That's usually unlike Kershaw, but he's been able to escape insane damage and still holds a very respectable ERA.

The Cubs have a .182 ISO and wOBA of .330 in the last 30 days against lefties. The Cubs have to be excited that Seiya Suzuki is back in the lineup. Overall, you can expect the Cubs to put together a full nine-man right-handed lineup against Kershaw. However, that lineup has struck out 24.5% of the time against lefties and has walked under 9% of the time.

I wouldn't be too confident in this Cubs team against Kershaw. With that said, I'll take the Dodgers -1.5 against the Cubs in tonight's game on the runline. Even if Stroman has a good game, he's not going to pitch deep as he's been away from a major league mound for a while.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs Pick

• Dodgers -1.5 (-120) (Bet $120 to Win $100)

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