Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 4/5/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Friday, April 5, 2024

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Spectrum SportsNet LA

The Chicago Cubs (4-2) will try to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers (7-2) at Wrigley Field on Friday. The men taking the mound will be Bobby Miller and Kyle Hendricks.

The Dodgers have accrued 16 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 14 balls out of the park. Los Angeles has a slugging % of .492 and have struck out 82 times, while drawing a walk on 39 occasions. As a squad, the Los Angeles Dodgers are recording 6.3 runs per game, which ranks them 6th in baseball. They have accumulated 56 runs batted in as well as 89 base knocks on the season, and their batting average sits at .294. They have accumulated 57 runs scored and have an on-base percentage of .376.

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They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.90 and the pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.18. Dodgers pitchers have allowed 6 home runs and 42 runs in total (25th in baseball). Los Angeles has allowed 68 base knocks (7.5 per 9 innings) as well as 37 earned runs. The Dodgers hold a team ERA of 4.06 this season (16th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 84 hitters. They have walked 29 opposing batters and their FIP sits at 3.45 as a unit on the season.

The Dodgers have sent 32 relief pitchers to the mound this season. The relief pitchers have inherited 11 runners so far this season with 36.4% of them crossed home plate. They have tallied 6 saves for the year and have blown 1 of their 7 save chances. The Dodgers bullpen have a save percentage of 85.7% and stepped onto the hill in 14 save situations. The relievers have racked up 7 holds over the course of the season (1st in MLB). Dodgers pitchers have entered the contest with players on base 7 times in addition to having 7 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have notched a total of 246 putouts for the season, as well as 77 assists and 6 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .982 which puts them in 18th in pro baseball, and they have turned 3 double plays. The Dodgers have converted 70.4% of balls hit into play into outs out of 738 innings on the field, ranking them 15th in pro baseball.

Miller (12-4 career record) holds a FIP of 3.36 and he has gone up against 526 opposing batters during his time in the majors. He has given up 107 base knocks (7.4 hits per 9 innings) and has 33 free passes. His ERA is 3.59 (52 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.074. Miller has taken the ball for 130 frames and has accumulated 130 punch outs in his career.

Chicago has hit 7 long balls over the course of the season as well as 35 RBIs. They have 7 two-baggers, while taking a walk 33 times and putting up 40 runs. The Chicago Cubs have compiled an OBP of .380 as well as a batting average of .276 on the year. The Cubs hold a team SLG% of .433 and they average 6.67 runs per game (3rd in MLB). They have struck out on 39 occasions (28th in the league) and have tallied 56 base hits.

The Cubs hold a team WHIP of 1.391 and have a FIP of 4.06 as a squad for the year. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 9.40 (56 strikeouts vs 21 bases on balls). They are sitting at 17th in MLB as a staff in total hits relinquished with 53. They have allowed 6 long balls and they yield 5.08 runs per 9 innings (21st in the league). The Chicago pitching staff have yielded 30 runs so far this year while holding an ERA of 4.23 (25 earned runs allowed).

Chicago has called on relief pitchers to enter the game in 3 save chances and they have recorded 0 saves. They rank 21st in baseball with a save percentage of 0.0%, and they have dispatched 24 bullpen pitchers to the mound this year. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 8 times in high leverage situations and also on 6 occasions with base runners. Chicago bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 44.4% out of their 9 inherited runners. With 5 save situations, the Cubs have accumulated 1 hold and 3 blown saves.

The Chicago Cubs have turned 6 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .972 (28th in the majors). The Cubs have recorded 50 assists, 6 errors and have notched a total of 161 putouts this year. In their 483 innings played, the Cubs have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 65.6% (22nd in pro baseball).

Hendricks (93-70 win-loss record in his career) has earned a 3.51 earned run average while allowing 8.4 hits per 9 innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.63 and he has faced 5,972 opposing hitters in his MLB career. He has given up a total of 566 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.160 and having a FIP of 3.8. So far in his pro baseball career, Hendricks has given up 1,363 base knocks while he has tallied 1,174 K's in 1,453 innings pitched.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Los Angeles

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