OddsTrader advises fading Shohei Ohtani's home run prop against the Cubs and pitcher Colin Rea. Their AI model assigns only a 15% chance of an Ohtani homer tonight. They point to Ohtani's high 30.6% strikeout rate and concerning 47.1% ground ball rate against right-handers this season as justification. His ISO (.214) and wOBA (.394) appear solid, but his elevated walk rate (near 25%) cuts into homer opportunities. Moreover, opponent Colin Rea has succeeded against lefties, inducing 50% ground balls with limited ISO (.125), making Ohtani less likely to clear the fences in this matchup.

Peter Dewey favors the Dodgers on the run line (-1.5) against the Cubs, highlighting the advantage Los Angeles holds in pitching. The Cubs deploy a bullpen game, starting Colin Rea, and their bullpen ERA sits at a concerning 4.53 this season. Conversely, the Dodgers boast stronger pitching with Tyler Glasnow slated to start. Glasnow was dominant in his debut (five scoreless innings, two hits allowed), despite a shaky subsequent performance. Dewey emphasizes LA's superior bullpen ERA (3.93) compared to Chicago, along with the Dodgers' top-10 ranked offense in OPS, providing solid value on the Dodgers run line.

BetMGM Betting points out the Chicago Cubs' remarkable success in first five innings (F5) run line bets, covering in 12 of their last 13 games. This trend yields an impressive +11.15 unit profit and a significant 72% ROI, highlighting this team's early-inning superiority as a reliable betting target.

BetMGM Betting recommends betting on Shohei Ohtani's RBI prop over 0.5, awarded appealing +120 odds. Ohtani is positioned favorably in the Dodgers' lineup and boasts strong recent production numbers, making this a high-upside, positive-value betting option given the odds being offered.

BetMGM Betting notes the Cubs have been outstanding in surpassing their team total line recently, clearing the over in 9 of their last 12 games. This betting approach has returned +6.00 units (43% ROI) during that span, highlighting a hot offense and market inefficiencies in the Cubs' scoring capabilities.

BetMGM Betting advises that Tommy Edman has demonstrated consistent success exceeding his total bases prop at home, clearing this target in 20 of his last 25 home games. This consistent ability to rack up extra base hits at Dodger Stadium, which returned +13.60 units and a 35% ROI, positions Edman as a highly advantageous prop option in today's matchup.

BetMGM Betting identifies Tyler Glasnow as a strong candidate for the strikeout over prop (6.5 Ks at -120 odds). Despite his problematic control this season, which includes a 24% walk rate through 33 batters, Glasnow dominated last year with MLB-best numbers on two-strike scenarios (59% strikeout rate). This elite strikeout proficiency supports confidence in Glasnow surpassing his prop line against the Cubs.

BetMGM Betting highlights Nico Hoerner as a particularly favorable prop betting option for hits, citing that he's gone over his hits prop in 18 out of his last 25 away games, yielding a +9.45 unit profit and a notable 19% ROI. With this significant sample size of road excellence, Hoerner represents a reliable bet to produce at least one hit in the matchup against the Dodgers.

BetMGM Betting suggests Tommy Edman as a strong home run prop bet, backed by his impressive recent home performance. Edman has homered in 5 of his last 9 contests at Dodger Stadium, producing a striking profit of +33.70 units with a robust 374% return on investment. Given these significant home splits, Edman is a valuable player prop candidate for bettors targeting high upside payouts.

Kenny G specifically advised caution with Tyler Glasnow, referencing notable control problems in his recent start, where he lasted only two innings against the Phillies, walking five batters and allowing five earned runs despite limited hits. While the Dodgers bullpen remains excellent (2.15 ERA), Glasnow’s rough recent outing adds uncertainty to the Dodgers' reliability here. Kenny sees this volatility as a reason to fade the Dodgers at heavily inflated -270 odds against a Cubs offense leading the majors in runs scored.

Kenny G sees significant underdog value (+220) on the Cubs versus the Dodgers, calling the current price far too inflated. After a shocking 16-0 Cubs victory in game two, Kenny backs Colin Rea, who has impressed out of the bullpen (scoreless appearances against Athletics and Rangers, 5.2 total innings). Despite worries about the Cubs' shaky bullpen (4.79 ERA), Kenny feels optimistic about the lineup, ranked first in MLB in runs. Conversely, Dodgers' Tyler Glasnow has struggled lately, struggling with significant control issues (five walks, five earned runs in two innings vs Phillies). Given these factors, Kenny confidently advises taking Chicago at strong plus odds.

Eric Pathi recommended taking the Cubs plus one and a half runs at plus money or even after their likely victory over the Dodgers on April 12th. Pathi emphasized an established betting system favoring underdogs coming off significant upset victories when facing the same opponent in immediate subsequent matchups. He highlighted the inherent betting value in grabbing more than a run on the underdog without laying juice, citing it as the most advantageous wager type in MLB betting. Specifically, he suggests betting the Cubs as an underdog against Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow in their game on April 13th, assuming the Cubs maintain their current 7-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Cash Out Sports Picks picked the under in Cubs-Dodgers matchup, reasoning that despite Tyler Glasnow's early-season struggles, he historically pitches extremely well at Dodger Stadium, having held opponents to a .190 average there last season. Additionally, Glasnow has found prior success against several Cubs hitters. With the Dodgers' bullpen performing reliably late in games, there is strong backing to expect limited scoring opportunities for both teams, leading to a low-scoring game.

Cash Out Sports Picks recommended betting on the Cubs against the spread, underlining potential vulnerability from Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow. Glasnow has struggled significantly early this season, allowing five earned runs, four hits, and eight walks over only seven innings pitched. What's worse, Glasnow had similar struggles last season, giving up five runs in just two innings against the Cubs lineup. Meanwhile, the Cubs offense is red-hot, recently exploding for 16 runs in a single game and posting double-digit scores three times in the past 11 days. Given Glasnow's shaky form and the Cubs' offensive momentum, Chicago is in a good position to cover as underdogs.

Data Skrive recommends considering a home run prop for Kyle Tucker at +375 odds against the Dodgers. Tucker is enjoying tremendous early success, batting .328/.451/.657 with 5 home runs and 44 total bases in 17 games. The powerful left-handed hitter will benefit from Dodger Stadium dimensions and a matchup against a volatile pitcher in Tyler Glasnow, known for giving up significant hard contact when struggling. Tucker provides enticing upside on the home run prop.

Josh Schonwald points bettors toward Shohei Ohtani's prop opportunities against the Chicago Cubs on April 13, 2025. Ohtani is listed at 2 total bases and 1.5 hits, coming into the matchup with encouraging recent stats. Over his last 10 games, Ohtani has accumulated 19 total bases, including 3 extra-base hits. Despite not hitting doubles recently, Schonwald emphasizes Ohtani's solid power numbers as reason to trust his prop bets in this contest.

Data Skrive highlights Kyle Tucker's home run prop as a high-value bet. With current odds set at +375, Tucker enters the matchup against the Dodgers with an outstanding slugging start in the 2025 season. Over 17 games he has amassed five home runs with 22 hits and 44 total bases. Given his formidable .657 slugging percentage, going yard against Tyler Glasnow and the Dodgers' pitching staff represents an attractive betting opportunity.

Data Skrive highlighted Teoscar Hernandez as an appealing DFS play against the Cubs, given his recent hot streak and strong stats early in the season. Hernandez enters the matchup hitting .300 with team-highs in RBI (16) and five home runs. He has been especially hot in recent games, currently riding a six-game hitting streak and batting .342 with three home runs and eight RBI over his past 10 outings. As the Dodgers look to rebound in a potentially high-scoring contest, Hernandez should be heavily involved offensively at Dodger Stadium.

Data Skrive predicts an upset, projecting a 6-5 Cubs win despite the Dodgers being heavy favorites with -269 moneyline odds to the Cubs' +217. Skrive noted that the Cubs have won two out of three games as underdogs recently and have been offensively hot, averaging 6.9 runs per game over their past 10 contests compared to the Dodgers' 3.6 runs per game. The Cubs' stronger recent batting performance, including Kyle Tucker's team-leading .328 batting average, five home runs, and 18 RBI, combines with the Dodgers' shaky recent form (4-5 in last nine games as favorites) to create value betting on the Cubs moneyline.

Data Skrive marks Tommy Edman as a tempting home run prop bet at +600 odds against the Cubs. His 6 HRs in 16 games represent a significant 37.5% home run frequency, highlighting an unexpected yet consistent early-season power surge. The combination of attractive odds and Edman's continued slugging success make him a strong prop target for savvy bettors.

Data Skrive highlights Kyle Tucker as a strong candidate to hit the over 0.5 total bases prop (-189 odds) against Tyler Glasnow and the Dodgers. Tucker is off to a red-hot start this season, hitting .328 with an impressive .451 OBP and .657 slugging percentage, driven by 22 hits, including 5 home runs and 44 total bases in 17 games. Glasnow has struggled this season, suggesting Tucker could easily continue racking up bases in this matchup. The context provided indicates Tucker has consistently produced at elite levels, making the over bet logical.

Tokyo Brandon recommends betting either Dodgers team total over or Dodgers minus-one run. The reasoning centers around Dodger hitters like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts experiencing positive regression after low production recently, coupled with facing Cubs starter Ben Brown. Brown is trending negatively, struggles with home run balls, and the Cubs bullpen ranks poor (23rd among all MLB bullpens). Conversely, the Dodgers bullpen is ranked 8th, complementing their lineup's power potential. Overall, Brandon forecasts a high-scoring game with a strong offensive showing from the Dodgers leading them eventually to secure victory.

Tokyo Brandon expects Freddie Freeman to significantly improve after returning to the lineup with a quiet first game back. He emphasized how unusual it was for the Dodgers to win despite almost zero production from core sluggers Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, and Mookie Betts. Brandon noted such lack of production is unlikely to continue, expecting Freeman specifically to break out against Cubs pitcher Ben Brown. Given Brandon's perception of Freeman as a key hitter in a power-rich Dodgers lineup, this bounce-back is crucial in the forecasted high-scoring affair.

Tokyo Brandon is bearish on Cubs starter Ben Brown against the Dodgers, noting his below-average pitcher ranking (18th out of 30) derived from Brandon's experience as an MLB scout. Despite a decent rookie year with a solid 1.08 WHIP and 3.58 ERA, Brandon noted Brown struggles with home runs and deep hits. He's recently seen Brown on a downward trajectory and believes he will likely face significant trouble navigating a Dodgers lineup featuring explosive hitters like Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, and Mookie Betts. Additionally, the Cubs' 23rd-ranked bullpen is also a concern, making Brown particularly vulnerable against the solid-hitting Dodgers.

Tokyo Brandon highlighted Roki Sasaki's struggles in his home-opening start, where he couldn't escape the second inning, even walking in runs and displaying emotional distress in the dugout. However, Brandon noted positive signs in Sasaki's following outing, showing he's on an upward trajectory. Brandon, a former MLB scout, believes Sasaki's main vulnerability is his mental game, but expects home field motivation will have Sasaki eager to prove his initial performance doesn't define him. Though still hesitant about how deep Sasaki will go into games, Brandon sees encouraging signs for improvement moving forward.

Bettor Mark confidently recommends betting the Dodgers team total over 4.5 runs versus the Cubs, citing Dodgers' home-field advantage and recent positive momentum. He specifically points to LA coming off a key victory and expects them to build on that emotionally charged performance at home on a Saturday night. Mark mentioned favorable hitting conditions due to warm Southern California weather aiding offensive output. While last night's matchup was low-scoring (3-0), Mark views this as an opportunity to capitalize on a line that undervalues a potent Dodgers offense ready to break out against Cubs pitcher Ben Brown.

OddsTrader highlighted value in rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki allowing fewer than 3.5 hits (+108) against the Chicago Cubs. The AI Model projected Sasaki would surrender only approximately 2.333 hits in the contest. Despite Sasaki's early struggles with walks (20.7% walk rate), he has demonstrated terrific contact management, evidenced by a .000 ISO and low .327 wOBA against his first 29 MLB hitters. The Cubs' lineup features four batters producing minimal power, each with an ISO below .122 against right-handed pitching this season. Given Sasaki's knack for limiting fly balls and the Cubs' modest power numbers, OddsTrader considers the under on hits allowed an excellent value bet.

Dan Marcus singled out Michael Conforto ($4,200) as a particularly attractive DFS hitter, fitting nicely between star and value status. Marcus notes the Dodgers' lineup faces volatile Cubs pitcher Ben Brown, who carries significant blow-up potential, making Conforto an ideal way to gain exposure to LA's potent offense at a moderate salary.

Dan Marcus recommended stacking the Cubs against Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki, who he believes has been lucky to avoid poor performances thus far despite shaky underlying skills. Sasaki frequently puts the Dodgers bullpen in difficult situations, increasing the chances for offensive production. Marcus highlighted Ian Happ ($4,500), Kyle Tucker ($6,300), and Seiya Suzuki ($5,300) as strong DFS plays, noting that Chicago's lineup has been among the NL's strongest and presents excellent potential for this specific matchup.

MLB Picks and Predictions recommended betting on the Chicago Cubs due to their promising matchup versus a Los Angeles Dodgers starter who has struggled significantly to open the season. The Cubs lineup has excelled lately against right-handed pitching, batting .279 as a team, which aligns well against this Dodgers starter who has surrendered a.325 average to opposing hitters and allowed multiple home runs in each of his last three starts.

With 6 HRs in 15 games, Tommy Edman has shown unexpected elite longball power, homering in 40% of his contest thus far in 2025. Data Skrive points out the excellent betting opportunity offered by Edman's surprising power surge, considering his current odds of +600 against the Cubs.

Kenny G strongly endorses backing the Dodgers' bats in their game against the Cubs. Despite modest early-season batting average rankings (18th overall), they're sixth best in runs scored and second in slugging percentage. Cubs starter Ben Brown sports an alarming 7.71 ERA and is coming off a brutal start (seven hits, five earned runs allowed in just four innings). Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki previously struggled with control against the Cubs (five walks), but limited them to just one run. He also had a solid recent outing versus the Phillies with just one earned run allowed in four innings. The Dodgers bullpen remains excellent (5th in MLB bullpen ERA), further strengthening Kenny's position to either back the Dodgers moneyline or take them runline -1.5 with confidence.

Kenny G offered implicit caution against betting on the Cubs moving forward after Justin Steele suffered an elbow injury serious enough for a second opinion consultation. Typically, these situations point toward extended absences or surgeries, significantly weakening Chicago's pitching outlook. Coupled with their most recent 3-0 defeat to the Dodgers—and already shaky performance so far—this latest blow to Steele dramatically lowers betting confidence in the Cubs for upcoming games, suggesting significant caution when considering backing Chicago in upcoming MLB matchups.

Kenny G is very bearish on the Chicago Cubs offense against the Dodgers. The Cubs have scored only two runs over their last two games and just suffered a shutout loss to the Dodgers in the opening game of the series. They're now forced to rely on young pitcher Ben Brown, who struggled mightily in his second start (7.71 ERA, allowing five earned runs in four innings). With Justin Steele potentially facing a prolonged absence due to a significant elbow injury and the Cubs already possessing a shaky bullpen (around 5.00 ERA), Kenny sees the Cubs' hot start offensively (currently 1st in runs, 10th in avg, 3rd in OBP) as completely unsustainable. He advises caution and expects their offensive troubles to persist against Dodgers' pitching.

Kyle Purviance highlighted strong value in betting Cubs first five innings against pitcher Rokey Sasaki. Despite acknowledging Sasaki's high ceiling, he underscored the pitcher’s inconsistency and lack of experience against MLB hitters, leading him to see a profitable opportunity backing the Cubs through the first half of this game.

Cash Out Sports Picks confidently backed the Dodgers to win and cover against the Cubs, citing severe pitching difficulties in Chicago. Cubs starter Ben Brown possesses concerning numbers: a 7.71 ERA and poor bullpen support ranking near the bottom of the league. Conversely, the Dodgers maintain a reliable and deep bullpen and a potent offensive lineup regularly generating runs, making them a strong home favorite against Chicago’s pitching issues.

It's The Final Round advised targeting Shohei Ohtani against Ben Brown due to Brown's reliance on a four-seam fastball 68% of the time against lefties. Ohtani has a .400 batting average against that pitch this year (4 hits, 1 HR in 10 at-bats). Ben Brown is vulnerable to hitters, allowing a .286 batting average to lefties on his fastball this season. Although Ohtani's launch angle sweet spot percentage is unexpectedly low (28%), Brown's 43.2% rate of optimal launch angle contact allowed presents Ohtani a high-upside scenario.

It's The Final Round highlighted Mookie Betts as a great play against Cubs pitcher Ben Brown, who primarily uses only two pitches. Ben Brown throws a four-seam fastball 60% of the time, against which Betts has hit .467 this season, including a home run in 13 at-bats. Ben Brown has struggled with this pitch, allowing an opposing batting average of .429. Betts is currently on a five-game hitting streak and has hits in seven of his last eight games. Additionally, Betts benefits significantly from Goldilocks zone launch angle hits (8-32 degrees) 37% of the time, while Ben Brown allows that optimal contact 43.2% of the time, among the worst in MLB, further amplifying Betts' upside.

Sean Zerillo sees the Cubs as small value underdogs priced around +190 against the Dodgers, mentioning a projected fair price of about +160. Zerillo highlighted the Cubs strong offensive output, powered mainly by outfielders Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki who have combined for 31 RBIs. Despite the concern around the Cubs bullpen, which has been weakened by the injury to Justin Steele, and lingering worries about starter Matthew Boyd facing the strong Dodgers lineup, Zerillo believes the market is slightly inflating the Dodgers' advantage. Citing a significant pricing discrepancy, he views Chicago at +175 or better as a small but actionable betting opportunity.

Chris Ruffolo likes backing Teoscar Hernandez at +330 odds to homer against Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd. Hernandez is tearing apart left-handed pitching this season, going 8-for-17 with five extra-base hits, including three homers against southpaws. While Boyd has pitched solidly for Chicago, Hernandez's hot start versus lefties and track record makes him a valuable bet at the current price point.

Guy Boston identifies the Cubs as an intriguing upset candidate against the Dodgers, emphasizing Matthew Boyd's strengths against right-handed batters. The entire Dodgers lineup except for Shohei Ohtani bats right-handed, which plays into Boyd's historically strong splits (.184 batting average and .240 wOBA allowed against Dodgers roster). Despite recognizing the significant threat posed by Ohtani, Boston suggests backing Matthew Boyd player prop markets like under earned runs or potentially Cubs run line (+1.5). The plus-money Cubs bet appeals due to matchup specifics and Dodgers repeatedly struggling versus left-handed pitchers this season, providing an appealing upset pick or player prop angle.

Dylan Rockford likes Matthew Boyd under 2.5 earned runs against a Dodgers lineup struggling mightily against left-handed pitching this season. Rockford cites Boyd's consistency, having allowed fewer than three earned runs in 10 of his last 11 starts dating back to last year, including every start this year. He points specifically to Boyd's past success against this current Dodgers lineup in a 2024 start. The Dodgers' troubling metrics versus left-handed pitchers were noted, as they rank bottom-10 across several critical batting metrics, including WRC+, K-rate, and OPS. Furthermore, Rockford suggests adding a sprinkle on Boyd to record the win at +290, as he expects him to pitch around five innings and sees a clear path for Boyd and the Cubs to capitalize on the Dodgers continued woes against southpaws.

JD Bets strongly recommends taking the Chicago Cubs on the +1.5 run line at -115 odds against the Dodgers. He highlights Matthew Boyd's surprising efficiency against the Dodgers hitters historically, limiting them significantly in past matchups. Additionally, JD cites the Cubs' offense as 'cooking', hitting robustly in recent games compared to the Dodgers. Given the Cubs' offensive momentum and Boyd's favorable pitching history in limited appearances against Los Angeles, JD confidently views Cubs +1.5 as a highly actionable and strong value bet.

JD Bets sees significant value in Matthew Boyd's strikeout prop of over 4.5 Ks against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He supports his recommendation noting Boyd's strong historical success, including a game last September where he struck out six Dodgers batters. Additionally, Boyd has cleared this prop consistently in nearly all recent starts. JD also mentions the Dodgers' high strikeout rate, ranking 20th in the league, striking out 9.1 times per game overall and 7.8 at home. Given Boyd's track record, favorable head-to-head history, and the Dodgers' strikeout tendencies, JD strongly endorses taking this prop.

Bettor Mark advises avoiding the Dodgers despite expecting them to win against the Cubs. He dislikes the expensive -196 moneyline, finding no attractive value there. He points out Yamamoto clearly holds the pitching advantage over Matthew Boyd, who is likely due for regression. However, Mark sees limited appeal in betting the Dodgers on the run line at +105 due to the uncertainty of the home team batting scenario (potential missing ninth inning at-bats). He also notes prop options like Dodgers team home runs, but ultimately couldn't find an actionable number. Overall, Mark advises staying away from conventional Dodgers bets because there's no sufficient upside in these prices or scenarios.