by Rod Pearson
Tuesday, Aug 04, 2026
Game Time: 2:20 pm ET, Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Where to Watch: MLB TV, MLB Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Moneyline odds: Dodgers +104, Cubs -126; Over/Under: NL runs
Bet365: Moneyline odds: Dodgers +105, Cubs -125; Over/Under: NL runs
BetMGM: Moneyline odds: Dodgers +105, Cubs -125; Over/Under: NL runs
Season Record
Los Angeles Dodgers: 69-44 (1st place, NL West)
Chicago Cubs: 64-49 (2nd place, NL Central)
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Recent Form
Los Angeles Dodgers: 4-6 last 10
Chicago Cubs: 6-4 last 10
Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Preview and Analysis
The Dodgers are entering this series off a loss and got swept in their 3-game series against the Boston Red Sox 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 69-44 record overall and have a road record of 36-21. This is the series finale of a 3-game series with the Cubs on Wednesday with the 2nd game still to be played on Tuesday. The Dodgers lost the series opener on Monday. Their offense ranks 1st in the MLB with a .772 OPS. Tarik Skubal is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Eric Lauer is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 6-5 with a 4.50 ERA this season. His team won their last 9 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 0 ER, 0 HR, and 1 BB with 4 SO on 1 hit through 6 IP against the Seattle Mariners.
The Cubs are entering this series off a loss and lost their 3-game series against the New York Yankees 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 64-49 record overall and have a home record of 32-24. This is the 3rd game of a 3-game series with the Dodgers on Wednesday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Tuesday. The Cubs won the 1st game of this series on Monday. Their offense ranks 3rd in the MLB with a .753 OPS. Javier Assad is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Shota Imanaga is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 7-9 with a 3.67 ERA this season. His team won 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 2 earned runs, 2 homers, and 0 walks with 6 strikeouts on 4 hits through 6.2 innings pitched against the New York Yankees.
Dodgers vs Cubs Prediction
The current betting odds have the Dodgers listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Dodgers have looked great in their games this season with their 69-44 record overall which has them right at the top of the NL West with one of the best records in MLB. They have been a great road team too with their 36-21 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Cubs have looked really good in their games this season with their 64-49 record overall which has them right near the top of the NL Central. They have looked good in their own ballpark too with their 32-24 home record this season. The Dodgers haven't looked good lately, now 4-6 in their last 10 games, and they just got swept by the Red Sox in their last series. The Cubs are 6-4 in their last 10 games and have been getting hot lately, but the Dodgers will be looking to break out of this recent funk and they do have one of the best offenses in the league to do it with. Lauer is on the mound for the Dodgers in this one and he hasn't looked great this season. He is 6-5 with a 4.50 ERA, but the team has been having a ton of success with him lately. The Dodgers have won 9 games in a row now with Lauer starting, not losing any games with him since acquiring him from the Blue Jays, and he is also coming off another great start giving up no runs which has been a common theme for him lately. The Cubs are going with Imanaga in this one and he has looked good this season. He is 7-9 with a 3.67 ERA and hasn't been giving up many runs lately, but he has been up and down all season with the team having trouble with him at times. They have won 2 of their last 3 games now with him starting and he only gave up 2 earned runs in his last start too, but this is one of the best offenses he is going to face all year. The Cubs have also had big issues with their bullpen all season, so the Dodgers do have the edge there and this is good value for the best team in baseball as an underdog with a starter they have never lost with. The best way to place a bet here is on the Dodgers to win this game.
Dodgers Cubs Prediction: Our MLB Pick for Wednesday, August 5, 2026 (2:20 pm ET start time) is Dodgers 3 Cubs 2.
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MLB Betting Trends
Los Angeles Dodgers: 43-40 (-18.7 units) on the moneyline against NL Central opponents. 284-186 (-20.7 units) on the moneyline in all games. 88-58 (-7 units) on the moneyline against left-handed starters. 23-17 OVER as an underdog of +100 or higher.
Chicago Cubs: 51-40 (+7 units) on the moneyline against NL West opponents. 244-201 (+17.3 units) on the moneyline in all games. 131-92 (+10.4 units) on the moneyline in home games. 21-9 OVER against left-handed starters.
Key Injuries
Los Angeles Dodgers: D. Rushing (C) Ten Day - Arm. W. Klein (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. W. Smith (C) Sixty Day IL - Neck. K. Bubic (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. B. Treinen (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. B. Graterol (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. B. Snell (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. B. Casparius (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. T. Glasnow (SP) Sixty Day IL - Back. J. Cousins (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. G. Stone (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. B. Miller (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.
Chicago Cubs: G. Hollowell (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. P. Maton (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Knee. M. Shaw (RF) Ten Day IL - Hand. E. Roberts (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. H. Milner (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Appendicitis. B. Brown (RP) Sixty Day IL - Neck. E. Cabrera (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Hamstring. D. Palencia (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. C. Holmes (SP) Sixty Day IL - Fibula. R. Martin (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. P. Hodge (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Horton (SP) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. H. Harvey (RP) Sixty Day IL - Tricep. J. Steele (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. T. Austin (1B) Sixty Day IL - Knee. S. Miller (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.
Notable Quotes
“This is a playoff-contending team. We’ve got to play well. Like I said [Sunday], we got outplayed. Outcompeted against. So we need to play better. We’re going to play better this series. I don’t know the results, but we will play with more urgency.” - Dave Roberts after his team’s loss against the Cubs in their game on Monday.
“There’s some belief that’s shown in the group here in what we can accomplish with the caliber of people that are coming here. And I think that fires everybody up, for sure. That part’s important.” - Craig Counsell after his team’s win against the LA Dodgers in their game on Monday.
Starting Lineups
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Andy Pages (R) CF
Tommy Edman (S) 2B
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Mookie Betts (R) SS
Kyle Tucker (L) RF
Teoscar Hernández (R) LF
Enrique Hernández (R) 3B
Eliezer Alfonzo (S) C
Chicago Cubs
Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Alex Bregman (R) DH
Carson Kelly (R) C
Michael Busch (L) 1B
Nico Hoerner (R) 2B
Pedro Ramírez (S) 3B
Dansby Swanson (R) SS
Kevin Alcántara (R) LF
Statistical Leaders
Los Angeles Dodgers
Batting Average: Enrique Hernández (.313)
Hits: Freddie Freeman (129)
Home Runs: Shohei Ohtani (24)
RBI: Andy Pages (74)
Stolen Bases: Andy Pages (10)
Wins: Justin Wrobleski (11)
Saves: Tanner Scott (16)
ERA: Shohei Ohtani (1.79)
Chicago Cubs
Batting Average: Justin Dean (.375)
Hits: Pete Crow-Armstrong (119)
Home Runs: Pete Crow-Armstrong (24)
RBI: Pete Crow-Armstrong (64)
Stolen Bases: Pete Crow-Armstrong (26)
Wins: Colin Rea (8)
Saves: Jacob Webb (5)
ERA: Ty Blach (0.00)
Managers:
Los Angeles Dodgers: Dave Roberts (11th season)
Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell (3rd season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
