Cubs vs. Dodgers (July 9): Will the NL West leaders win their sixth straight game?

After picking up just their second extra-inning win of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers will aim to wrap up a series win over the visiting Chicago Cubs tonight at Dodger Stadium.

After a 5-3 win in the series opener on Thursday, the Dodgers were three outs away from seeing their four-game win streak end last night. But they tied the game in the ninth and won it in the tenth to extend their streak to five and beat the Cubs for the fifth time in five games this season.

In tonight’s matchup, Clayton Kershaw will look to remain unbeaten at home this season, while Marcus Stroman will try to make a winning return to action in his first start since June 3.

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Chicago Cubs (34-50, 17-23 away, 4th in the NL Central) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (54-29, 28-13 home, 1st in the NL West)
• Venue & Location: Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles, California)
• Date: Saturday, July 9, 2022
• Game Time: 10:10 p.m. Eastern Time (7:10 p.m. local time)
• TV Broadcast/Streaming Info: MLB Network

Cubs vs. Dodgers Pitching Matchup

• Chicago Cubs: Marcus Stroman (2022: 9 starts, 2-5, 5.32 ERA)
• Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (2022: 10 starts, 5-2, 2.57 ERA)

Cubs vs. Dodgers Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. This article may also feature odds from other top online sportsbooks that we have reviewed and recommend.

Moneyline

• Chicago Cubs +215
• Los Angeles Dodgers -260

Over/Under

• OVER 8 (-106)
• UNDER 8 (-114)

Run Line

• Chicago Cubs +1.5 (+102)
• Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-122)

Can the Cubs Break Through Against Kershaw?

Pitching continues to be the strength this year for the Dodgers, who lead MLB in team ERA (2.91) and are second to the Yankees in runs allowed per game (3.22).

In their current win streak, the NL West leaders have allowed just 12 runs, and they have allowed just 24 runs in going 9-1 in their last ten games.

Only twice in that 10-game stretch have the Dodgers allowed four or more runs, and Kershaw was the starter in the latter game, a 4-2 loss to the Padres last Sunday.

Kershaw certainly did his part, as he allowed just four hits and one walk and struck out eight in seven shutout innings. He was in line for the win, but Craig Kimbrel couldn’t close it out in what was a four-run ninth for the Padres.

Run support has been either all or nothing in Kershaw’s starts this season. In his five wins, the Dodgers have scored seven runs three times and ten runs twice. In the other five starts (all losses for the Dodgers), they have scored a total of ten runs.

Will it be feast or famine tonight against Stroman? This will be his first start since he allowed nine runs and ten hits–including three homers–in four innings in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, after which he went on the shelf with right shoulder inflammation.

Prior to that horror show, Stroman had recorded a 1.80 ERA in his previous five starts, allowing six earned runs in 30 innings.

Even if Stroman does happen to make a strong return, the Dodgers will still fancy their chances with Kershaw, who has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his ten starts this season.

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Prediction and Best Bets

Cubs vs. Dodgers Prediction: Dodgers to win

Cubs vs. Dodgers Best Bets: Dodgers -1.5 (-122) & Cubs team total under 3 runs (-122) – both at BetOnline)

Even if the Dodgers don’t light Stroman up, the best value still lies in backing the Dodgers to cover the run line.

The Cubs are pretty bad against power pitchers, to the tune of a .198 batting average, and after being limited to just 11 hits in the first two games of the series, it’s hard to see them having much success against Kershaw tonight.

Last night was just the sixth one-run win and 14th one-run game for the Dodgers, so we shouldn’t expect another such contest tonight, based on how infrequently they have occurred and how there has been only one instance in which they have had consecutive one-run wins (or games) in a row to date this season.

Other MLB Content Today on Betting News (Saturday, July 9)

• Giants vs. Padres Prediction & Best Bets (7/9)
• Blue Jays vs. Mariners Prediction & Best Bets (7/9)