Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 4/20/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Thursday, April 20, 2023

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

The Chicago Cubs (10-6) will go up against the Los Angeles Dodgers (9-9) at Wrigley Field on Thursday. The pitchers taking the mound are Michael Grove and Jameson Taillon.

Los Angeles has a slugging % of .464 and have struck out 172 times, while drawing a walk on 87 occasions. They have accounted for 95 RBI's and 138 base knocks on the year, while their batting average comes in at .235. The Dodgers have compiled 26 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 32 balls out of the stadium. They have accumulated 96 runs while holding a team OBP of .337. As a unit, the Los Angeles Dodgers are recording 5.3 runs per game, which has them at 7th in baseball.

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The Dodgers have compiled a team ERA of 4.16 over the course of the season (13th in the league), and the staff has struck out 153 batters. Dodgers pitchers have given up 19 home runs and also 75 runs in total (10th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 39 players from the other team and their FIP comes in at 3.83 as a squad on the campaign. Los Angeles has given up 155 hits (8.8 per 9 innings) and 73 earned runs. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.92 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.23.

The Dodgers relief pitchers have compiled a save rate of 60.0% and stepped onto the hill in 8 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 31 base runners so far this season with 25.8% of them ended up crossing the plate. Dodgers bullpen pitchers have come into the game with opponents on base 19 times and also have had 9 appearances in high leverage situations. The Dodgers have sent 56 relief pitchers to the mound this season. The relief pitchers have notched 3 holds so far this season (28th in the league). They have recorded 3 saves so far this season and have blown 2 of their 5 chances to save the game.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have accounted for 474 putouts thus far, as well as 157 assists and 7 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .989 which puts them in 8th in baseball, and have a total of 14 double plays. The Dodgers have turned 68.1% of balls in play into outs in their 1,422 innings on the field, which ranks them 22nd in pro baseball.

Grove has taken the hill for 42 innings and has totaled 38 punch outs during his career. Grove (1-1 win-loss mark in his career) holds a FIP of 4.59 while he has gone up against 191 hitters in the major leagues. His earned run average is 5.95 (28 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.488. He has conceded 48 hits (10.2 hits per nine innings) with 15 walks.

The Chicago Cubs are sitting with a team OBP of .346 as well as a team batting average of .285 for the season. They have struck out on 134 occasions (26th in MLB) and have a total of 161 hits. Chicago has compiled 20 home runs over the course of the season as well as 83 runs batted in. The Cubs have a team slugging % of .435 and they average 5.44 runs per game (4th in MLB). They have hit 25 two-baggers, while walking 51 times as well as putting up 87 runs.

The Cubs are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.166 with a FIP of 3.42 as a pitching staff so far this season. Their K/BB ratio sits at 9.80 (157 strikeouts vs 53 free passes). They are sitting at 3rd in the league as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 114. They have relinquished 12 homers and they allow 3.65 runs per 9 innings (6th in the league). The Chicago pitching staff have allowed 58 runs this season while having an ERA of 3.21 (51 earned runs conceded).

Sitting with 15 save situations, the Cubs have accrued 10 holds in addition to 3 blown saves. Chicago has had relief pitchers enter the game in 5 save chances and they have tallied 2 saves. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 12 times in high leverage situations and on 7 occasions with runners on. Chicago relief pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 25.0% out of 12 inherited base runners. They are ranked 28th in MLB with a save percentage of 40.0%, and they have sent 49 bullpen pitchers to the mound on the campaign.

The Chicago Cubs have gotten 10 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .985 (20th in baseball). The Cubs have 145 assists, 9 errors and have a total of 431 putouts for the year. Out of their 1,293 innings played, the Cubs are sitting with a efficiency on defense of 70.7% (8th in MLB).

In his career, Taillon has given up 777 base knocks and he has 726 K's in 801 frames. He has conceded a total of 343 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.215 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.8. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.69 and he has faced 3,341 batters in his pro baseball career. Taillon (51-37 career win-loss mark) has a 3.85 earned run average while conceding 8.7 hits per 9 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Los Angeles

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