MLB Betting Picks May 5, 2021 – Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs
It looks like the Los Angeles Dodgers are still experiencing the championship hangover. It hasn’t been the start they were looking for but at least they have a full season to turn things around. And the club is loaded so you can expect that to happen sooner rather than later. The Dodgers wrap up a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday looking to salvage a win after getting swept in Tuesday’s doubleheader. Walker Buehler takes the bump for LA while the Cubs counter with righty Adbert Alzolay. Bookmaker.eu offers a generous welcome bonus (max bonus $1600).
The game will air live on ESPN with betting options for every game on the 2021 MLB schedule available at BookMaker.eu.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 5, 2021, 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Probable Pitchers: Walker Buehler vs. Adbert Alzolay
Opening MLB Odds: Los Angeles -176, Chicago +152, O/U 6.5
Dodgers at Cubs TV Coverage: ESPN
Odds Analysis
The start to the season was actually quite impressive. It’s the stretch of play over the last few weeks that has the Dodgers reeling. They won 13 of their first 15 games and looked like they were going to clinch a playoff spot by the All-Star break. But as we know it’s an incredibly long season and a lot can happen. Things have fallen apart since. The offense has struggled and the rotation took a hit when Dustin May sustained an elbow injury early in his last start. He’s scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery.
And to make matters worse Clayton Kershaw had the shortest outing of his career in the first game of Tuesday’s twinbill getting yanked in the first inning of an eventual 7-1 loss. It was LA’s 11th loss in 15 games following the torrid start. They still have a nice record, just not as nice as it could’ve been. And the Dodgers have been a money pit during their slide since they were favored in every game. Overall they’re down 378 units on the moneyline and 427 units on the run line.
The Cubs are just hoping to get through the season and maybe get lucky along the way. A few pieces remain from their championship team a few years back, but in no way are they considered a threat to win the NL Central or contend for a playoff spot. That could be what motivates them, though. what’s likely to keep the Cubs at the bottom of the standings is a pitching staff that ranks among the worst in the majors.
Probable Pitchers
The Dodgers turn to Walker Buehler (1-0, 3.16 ERA) in hopes of starting a winning streak. Like others in the rotation Buehler had a rough outing last time out giving up seven hits and five runs over 6.1 frames in a game the Dodgers lost 6-5 to the Reds. It wasn’t because a lack of stuff and Buehler has the makings of a future Cy Young winner. He fanned 10 in that game giving him 31 whiffs for the season.
Buehler has been the most effective and dependable starter this season collecting quality starts in each of his first four outings, and he’s been solid since making his much-anticipated debut a few years ago. He has an impressive 15.5 strikeout/walk ratio and doesn’t give opponents anything. If you’re going to beat him you have to do the work.
With Jake Arrieta going on the IL the Cubs had to rearrange their rotation giving Adbert Alzolay (1-2, 4.71 ERA) the ball on Wednesday. Alzolay is coming off his best start of the season giving up just four hits and two runs with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings against the Braves to notch his first win. Alzolay is one of the Cubs top pitching prospects and he flashed signs last season with a 2.95 ERA and 29 strikeouts over 21.1 innings. He’s a player the team is leaning on as they start a mini rebuild.
Alzolay appears to be feeling more comfortable in his role and it’s shown in his last two starts. After surrendering seven earned runs across 10.1 innings of his first two outings, he’s given up just four runs and six hits in 10.2 frames in his last two starts. The young righty relies on a nasty slider for his out pitch. Opponents are hitting .114 with a 40.5 percent whiff rate against that pitch.
Bet Dodgers at Cubs at BookMaker.eu
The Dodgers got whacked in the first inning of the first game and whacked again in extra innings of the nightcap on Tuesday to get swept. They need a strong game from Buehler to rest an overworked bullpen and they need the bats to come alive. I still believe LA is the best team in the NL needing a wakeup call to jumpstart their season. Losing twice in the same day to the Cubs should be the jolt they need.
MLB Score Prediction: Dodgers 7, Cubs 2
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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com
