Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/5/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Los Angeles (-175) Chicago (+161)

Walker Buehler and the Los Angeles Dodgers (17-12, 2nd in NL West) are headed to Wrigley Field on Wednesday where they'll take on the Chicago Cubs (12-16, 4th in NL Central). The line on this matchup has the Dodgers priced at -175 and the Cubs are at +161. The total is set at 9. The pitchers who are expected to start are Walker Buehler and Jake Arrieta.

Los Angeles has a slugging rate of .409 and have struck out 274 times, while drawing a walk on 137 occasions. They have accumulated 141 RBI's and 238 base knocks so far this year, while their batting average is sitting at .240. The Dodgers have tallied 44 two-baggers as a team and have knocked 35 baseballs out of the park. They have 148 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .346. As a squad, the Los Angeles Dodgers are knocking in 5.1 runs/g, which puts them at 3rd in baseball.

The Dodgers have a team earned run average of 3.03 so far this year (4th in baseball), and the staff has struck out 295 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 80 opposing batters and their FIP sits at 3.43 as a squad so far this season. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 3.69 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.09. Dodgers pitchers have allowed 31 long balls and 103 total runs (6th in MLB).

The Dodgers relievers have recorded a save percentage of 52.9% and has stepped onto the mound in 40 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 39 runners for the year with 28.2% of them crossed the plate. Dodgers relief pitchers have come into the game with runners on 31 times as well as having 47 appearances in high leverage situations. The Dodgers have dispatched 94 relief pitchers to the mound this year. The relief pitchers have tallied 22 holds this year (2nd in the league). They have compiled 9 saves on the year and have blown 8 of their 17 save opportunities.

The Dodgers have turned 71.6% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 2,376 innings on the diamond, which has them ranked 7th in MLB. The Los Angeles Dodgers have notched a total of 792 putouts for the season, in addition to 255 assists and 15 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .986 which has them ranked 6th in pro baseball, and have accumulated 185 double plays.

Buehler has taken the ball for 397 innings and has accumulated 451 K's in his MLB career. His ERA is 3.15 (139 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.023. He has surrendered 311 base hits (7.1 hits per nine innings) and has had 95 free passes. Buehler (25-9 record in his career) sits with a FIP of 3.22 while he has gone up against 1,591 batters in the majors.

Chicago has hit 37 home runs on the year to go along with 125 RBIs. They have 39 doubles, while getting a free base 104 times as well as putting up 129 runs. The Chicago Cubs have an OBP of .313 in addition to a batting average of .224 this season. The Cubs have a team slugging percentage of .404 and they are earning 4.61 runs per contest (13th in baseball). They have been rung up on 282 occasions (6th in baseball) and have 203 hits.

The Cubs are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.472 with a FIP of 4.92 as a staff for the season. They sit at 25th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 238. The Chicago pitching staff have allowed 143 runs over the course of the season and come in with a team ERA of 5.01 (137 earned runs conceded). They currently have a K/BB ratio of 2.12 (263 strikeouts vs 124 bases on balls). They have relinquished 40 HR's and they surrender 5.23 runs per 9 innings (24th in MLB).

Chicago has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 8 save opportunities and they have walked away with 6 saves. They are ranked 7th in the league holding a save rate of 75.0%, and they have dispatched 116 bullpen pitchers onto the field on the campaign. Their bullpen pitchers have taken the field 30 times in high leverage situations and on 34 occasions with runners on. Chicago bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 29.3% out of their 58 inherited base runners. Sitting with 25 save situations, the Cubs have earned 16 holds in addition to 2 blown saves.

Out of their 2,214 innings on the field, the Cubs hold a efficiency on defense of 68.4% (25th in baseball). The Chicago Cubs have turned 24 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .987 (5th in pro baseball). The Cubs have 259 assists, 13 errors and are sitting with 738 putouts this season.

Arrieta (113-82 career win-loss record) has earned a 3.77 earned run average and has given up 7.9 hits per 9 innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.56 and he has faced 6,421 opposing hitters in his MLB career. He has allowed 647 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.221 and having a FIP of 3.9. So far in his MLB career, Arrieta has given up 1,348 hits while earning 1,378 K's in 1,545 frames.

Who will win tonight's MLB game ATS?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Chicago (+161)

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