Chicago Cubs (38-29) at LA Dodgers (45-23)
When: Thursday, June 13th, 2019
Where: Dodger Stadium,
Los Angeles, CA
Time: 10:10 ET | TV: NBCS Chicago,
SporstNet LA
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -178/8
Since the 2017 NLDS when the Los Angeles Dodgers took care of the Chicago Cubs in five games en route to a World Series appearance, the tables have turned a bit in their regular season matchups. Chicago has won six of the last 10 meetings including two of three in Wrigley Field back in April and will send Jon Lester to the mound in hopes of continuing that success in the opener of a big four-game series this weekend at Dodger Stadium that will conclude on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. The Cubs, who have won seven of their last 10 overall, avoided a three-game sweep in Denver on Thursday behind the bat of Kyle Schwarber and the arm of Cole Hamels. Chicago pounded out 10 runs en route to the victory, as Schwarber drove in four and the 4-8 hitters in the lineup each had two hits including Hamels, who also pitched seven shutout innings while striking out nine. The Dodgers have slowed down by losing four of their last six games and could be without one of their hottest hitters when they open a 11-game homestand. L.A. was swept by the Los Angeles Angels in a two-game interleague series to start the week and shortstop Corey Seager suffered a hamstring injury Tuesday that could have him out for a while. Seager is riding a nine-game hitting streak in which he is 17-for-37, while third baseman Justin Turner is 8-for-18 during his modest five-game hitting streak.
Pitchers: Cubs – Jon Lester (5-4, 3.56 ERA) | Dodgers – Clayton Kershaw (5-1, 3.00)
Lester has followed up a disastrous May with a couple of wins to begin June, although his last outing wasn’t his best when he surrendered four runs – including two homers – over six innings against the St. Louis Cardinals last Saturday. Lester, who is is 4-4 with a 3.22 ERA in 10 career games against the Dodgers, allowed one run over five innings in a 2-1 loss to Los Angeles on April 25th.
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Kershaw was solid in his last outing against San Francisco, allowing just two runs on six hits over seven innings but suffered his first loss in the 2-1 game. He has allowed more than three runs in just one of his 10 starts in 2019, but has yet to strike out more than eight batters in a game. Kershaw, who is 5-3 with a 2.57 ERA in 10 career starts versus the Cubs, owns a 4-0 mark and 2.88 ERA in six home starts this season.
The Dodgers have the pitching edge in this one, but don’t overlook Lester. He is pretty good at Dodger Stadium, allowing two runs or less in nine of his last 10 starts there and one run or less eight times. L.A. has been really good at home this season, but the Cubs are playing well right now and are worth a shot here as a big underdog.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Thursday. He is 78-49 +2153 units on the season after a 28-11 run!
Pick: Cubs +168
MLB Free Picks Still Hot – Jay Cooper on 7-1 Run!
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BETTING TRENDS:
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Cubs are 50-20 in their last 71 Thursday games.
Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 overall.
Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 games on grass.
Cubs are 16-7 in their last 23 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 23-11 in their last 34 vs. a team with a winning record.
Cubs are 4-9 in their last 13 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cubs are 3-7 in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Cubs are 2-6 in their last 8 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 road games.
Cubs are 28-7 in Lester’s last 35 starts during game 1 of a series.
Cubs are 7-2 in Lester’s last 9 Thursday starts.
Cubs are 12-4 in Lester’s last 16 road starts.
Cubs are 6-2 in Lester’s last 8 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Cubs are 38-13 in Lester’s last 51 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 36-16 in Lester’s last 52 starts on grass.
Cubs are 38-18 in Lester’s last 56 starts with 4 days of rest.
Cubs are 36-17 in Lester’s last 53 starts.
Dodgers are 10-2 in their last 12 games following a loss.
Dodgers are 21-5 in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Dodgers are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Dodgers are 8-2 in their last 10 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Dodgers are 7-2 in their last 9 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Dodgers are 10-3 in their last 13 Thursday games.
Dodgers are 16-5 in their last 21 vs. National League Central.
Dodgers are 40-13 in their last 53 home games.
Dodgers are 19-7 in their last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.
Dodgers are 21-8 in their last 29 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Dodgers are 37-15 in their last 52 overall.
Dodgers are 36-15 in their last 51 games on grass.
Dodgers are 78-35 in their last 113 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Dodgers are 42-19 in their last 61 during game 1 of a series.
Dodgers are 35-16 in their last 51 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Dodgers are 43-20 in their last 63 games following an off day.
Dodgers are 49-23 in their last 72 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Dodgers are 4-0 in Kershaw’s last 4 starts vs. National League Central.
Dodgers are 48-12 in Kershaw’s last 60 home starts.
Dodgers are 48-14 in Kershaw’s last 62 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Dodgers are 51-15 in Kershaw’s last 66 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Dodgers are 40-12 in Kershaw’s last 52 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Dodgers are 60-19 in Kershaw’s last 79 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Dodgers are 82-26 in Kershaw’s last 108 starts.
Dodgers are 80-26 in Kershaw’s last 106 starts on grass.
Dodgers are 46-15 in Kershaw’s last 61 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Dodgers are 47-17 in Kershaw’s last 64 starts with 5 days of rest.
Dodgers are 38-14 in Kershaw’s last 52 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Dodgers are 42-16 in Kershaw’s last 58 starts during game 1 of a series.
Dodgers are 13-5 in Kershaw’s last 18 Thursday starts.
Dodgers are 43-17 in Kershaw’s last 60 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 4-0-1 in Cubs last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 Thursday games.
Over is 9-3 in Cubs last 12 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 overall.
Under is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 road games.
Under is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 on grass.
Under is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 games following a win.
Under is 7-3 in Cubs last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 9-4 in Cubs last 13 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 3-0-1 in Lester’s last 4 starts on grass.
Over is 3-0-1 in Lester’s last 4 starts overall.
Over is 7-1 in Lester’s last 8 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 starts with 4 days of rest.
Over is 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 12-3-1 in Lester’s last 16 road starts.
Over is 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 7-2-1 in Lester’s last 10 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 20-8 in Lester’s last 28 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 7-3 in Lester’s last 10 starts vs. National League West.
Under is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 Thursday games.
Over is 3-0-1 in Dodgers last 4 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Under is 3-0-1 in Dodgers last 4 home games.
Over is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 vs. National League Central.
Under is 5-0 in Dodgers last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 3-0-1 in Dodgers last 4 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 10-1-1 in Dodgers last 12 overall.
Under is 10-1-1 in Dodgers last 12 on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Dodgers last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 22-6-4 in Dodgers last 32 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 9-3-2 in Dodgers last 14 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 8-3-1 in Dodgers last 12 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Under is 5-2-1 in Dodgers last 8 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 6-1-1 in Kershaw’s last 8 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-1-1 in Kershaw’s last 7 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 6-2 in Kershaw’s last 8 Thursday starts.
Under is 7-3-1 in Kershaw’s last 11 home starts.
Over is 7-3-2 in Kershaw’s last 12 starts vs. National League Central.
Under is 42-20-2 in Kershaw’s last 64 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Over is 3-0-1 in Kershaw’s last 4 starts vs. Cubs.
Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Dodgers are 6-2 in Kershaw’s last 8 home starts vs. Cubs.
Dodgers are 5-2 in Kershaw’s last 7 starts vs. Cubs.
Under is 5-2-1 in Kershaw’s last 8 home starts vs. Cubs.
Cubs are 2-7 in the last 9 meetings in Los Angeles.
