⚾ Cubs vs. Dodgers Prediction & Picks: MLB Odds for Friday, April 24

The Chicago Cubs begin a six-day West Coast trip with a series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as two of the National League’s top three World Series favorites go head-to-head. The starting pitching matchup is between Jameson Taillon and Emmet Sheehan, with first pitch from Dodger Stadium scheduled for 10:15 p.m. ET as the second game of an Apple TV doubleheader. Los Angeles is a -165 betting favorite.

My Cubs vs. Dodgers prediction backs Los Angeles to put an end to Chicago’s nine-game winning streak, while improving upon its NL-best home record. My other two MLB picks are correlated with Jameson Taillon’s struggles, and a big day at the plate from one of the sport’s most feared sluggers.

⚾ Cubs vs. Dodgers picks & odds today

See all of our experts’ MLB picks based on the latest MLB odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 2.25 units | Max profit: 2.56 units

🏆 Who will win Cubs vs. Dodgers?

Chicago has been as impressive as any team in the league over the last two weeks, winning nine straight and 10 of 11. But Los Angeles is the only NL team with three or fewer home losses, and it should remain that way tonight.

Score prediction: Dodgers 6, Cubs 3

💰 Cubs vs. Dodgers prediction & best bet

Dodgers -1.5 (+135)

Chicago has averaged 7.3 runs per game while winning nine straight, with a run differential of plus-39. But the Cubs are 10-5 at home and just 5-4 on the road, and a change of venue combined with a long road trip after a 10-inning affair tilts things in L.A.’s favor.

After two rocky starts, Emmet Sheehan battled back with a quality start against the Rangers, and two runs allowed at Coors Field. I expect him to neutralize a Cubs offense that ranks second in the NL in on-base percentage and wRC+ in road games.

🔥 Best Cubs vs. Dodgers player prop bet

Jameson Taillon Under 4.5 strikeouts (-136)

Jameson Taillon has struggled against current Dodgers hitters, allowing a .273/.341/.533 slash line in 77 combined at-bats. He has struck out 22% of batters in that span, but L.A.’s ability to put up crooked numbers with nine extra-base hits (including five home runs) in that span could make for a short outing for the righty.

Taillon ranks in the 47th percentile in strikeout rate. His 22.1% strikeout rate is on pace to be his best since 2021, but he is also due for regression after punching out 18.5% and 18.9% of batters over the last two seasons.

The Dodgers rank in the top half of the league in strikeout rate against right-handed pitchers, so I’m backing Taillon to record four or fewer strikeouts for the third time in four starts.

💣 Cubs vs. Dodgers home run prediction

Shohei Ohtani to hit a home run (+186)

Shohei Ohtani is one of three current Dodgers with at least 10 career at-bats against Taillon and a .982 OPS or better. Ohtani’s 1.462 OPS is the highest of the trio (Teoscar Hernandez- .982, Kyle Tucker- 1.255 are the others), and the slugger has taken Taillon deep twice (with three total extra-base hits) in 10 at-bats.

Ohtani should be able to play more freely now that his on-base streak has ended at 53 games, while tying Shawn Green (2000) for the second-longest such streak in franchise history since 2000. 

Ohtani has a great chance to end his season-long nine-game homerless drought tonight. 

🚀 Cubs vs. Dodgers same-game parlay

There are many times where I will substitute a different third leg to my same-game parlays and avoid using home run props. But in this case, Ohtani homering would go a long way in helping the Dodgers cover the runline, so I am happy to keep it in the SGP as an odds booster. A big day offensively for the Dodgers would also help shorten Taillon's outing and lower his ceiling for strikeouts. 

💵 My betting record for MLB picks

All MLB picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since March 26.

💡 How I'm betting Cubs vs. Dodgers: MLB strategy

Follow all of our MLB analysis and expert predictions for baseball season.

Shohei Ohtani is one of the only sluggers that I would think about risking more than 0.25 units of my bankroll to hit a home run. But his power drought tempers my expectation somewhat, and I'm still getting plus-money returns on laying the 1.5 runs with the Dodgers. I'm also keen on the Under of Taillon's strikeouts, as he has inflated his strikeout rate with 10 of his K's coming in one home start against the Pirates.

📊 Live Cubs vs. Dodgers odds

It is not common for a team on a nine-game winning streak and tied for first in its division to be anywhere from +135 to +142 moneyline underdogs, but that is the respect that oddsmakers have for the Dodgers when facing the Cubs. However, plenty of bettors are siding with the red-hot road 'dogs, as Chicago has attracted 42% of the money, which caused the line to shorten from -175 to -160 at BetMGM.

BetMGM is also currently the only top sports betting site offering an O/U of 9 while the rest of the market is aligned at 9.5. BetMGM opened at Over 9.5 (+105), but now has the Over of 9 juiced to -130 (56.52% implied odds). The Under of 9.5 is juiced to at least -120 at all other sportsbooks, so BetMGM may not be standing alone at an O/U of 9 for long.

📈 Cubs vs. Dodgers betting trends

🚑 Cubs vs. Dodgers injuries

📺 How to watch Cubs vs. Dodgers

• Date: Friday, April 24
• First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET
• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles)
• Streaming: Apple TV
• Cubs starter: Jameson Taillon (1-1, 3.97 ERA)
• Dodgers starter: Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 5.85 ERA)