Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions & Picks for April 26

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The Chicago Cubs (17-10, 6-5 away) and Los Angeles Dodgers (18-9, 10-4 home) conclude their three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon (first pitch scheduled for 1:10 pm PT) with both teams looking for a series victory in the rubber match.

The Dodgers ended Chicago’s ten-game win streak last night with a decisive 12-4 victory, backed by a 14-hit explosion and a key home run from Max Muncy. Despite the blowout loss, the Cubs showcased their offensive ceiling with three long balls of their own from Seiya Suzuki, Moisés Ballesteros, and Miguel Amaya.

On Sunday, the underdog Cubs look to bounce back as they send Shota Imanaga (2-1, 2.17 ERA) to the mound to quiet an elite Dodger lineup. The heavily-backed home favorite will counter with scorching-hit young lefty Justin Wrobleski (3-0, 1.88 ERA).

Cubs vs Dodgers Picks & Predictions

While the Dodgers boast a terrifying lineup that leads to heavily juiced moneylines, the real story of this showdown is the spectacular pitching matchup. Both clubs are sending red-hot arms to the mound, making the game total and player props much more appealing than betting the steep price on the home favorites.

Run-Total Pick: Under 9.5 (-125 at Kalshi)

The Dodgers are slashing .280 with an elite .830 OPS, but Imanaga is equipped to cool them down. He has been nearly unhittable, utilizing a swinging-strike approach that commands the zone beautifully. Conversely, Wrobleski holds a sparkling 1.88 ERA and is backed by a rotation with a collective 2.89 ERA. Runs will be at an absolute premium.

Player-Prop Pick: Wrobleski Under 3.5 Strikeouts (+127 at Kalshi)

My best player prop is Justin Wrobleski Under 3.5 Strikeouts, which is trading at just 44 cents at Kalshi (equal to +127 odds). That’s a huge increase from the best sportsbook price at the moment, which is just +109.

While phenomenal at run prevention, Wrobleski does not rely on strikeouts, holding a low 3.38 K/9 rate. The Cubs possess a strong .355 on-base percentage; they will put the ball in play and force the left-hander to rely on his infield defense rather than blowing third strikes past them.

Imanaga vs Wrobleski Season Stats

Imanaga showcases swing-and-miss stuff that makes him one of the most dangerous left-handers in baseball. He generates whiffs and limits hard contact, masking his unfortunate 2-3 record with a phenomenal 2.91 FIP.

Meanwhile, Wrobleski relies on weak contact. His batted-ball luck makes his margin for error slightly thinner against a disciplined lineup, giving Imanaga the underlying edge in head-to-head metrics.

Team Stats: CHC vs LAD

The Dodgers lead the league in home exit velocity, mashing the ball at 91.3 mph. Driven by stars like Ohtani and Freeman, they boast an elite .800 OPS at Dodger Stadium. However, there is a fascinating mismatch between their contact quality and run production, as they only generate 4.93 runs per game at home. Conversely, the Cubs are road warriors. They average 5.82 runs per away game, utilizing a contact-heavy approach that puts constant pressure on opposing pitching staffs.

Here are the most-significant betting trends for Cubs/Dodgers on Sunday:

• The Cubs are 6-3 (66.7%) as betting underdogs this season.
• The Dodgers are 15-9 (62.5%) when listed as the moneyline favorite.
• The Cubs are a dominant 9-1 (90.0%) straight up over their last 10 games and had won 10 in a row before yesterday’s loss.

Cubs vs Dodgers Odds

The Dodgers enter this afternoon contest as moderate 54-cent moneyline favorites at Kalshi (equal to -117 odds). For those backing the road underdogs, the Cubs offer solid plus-money value at 47 cents (+113) to win outright.

The run total is either 8.5, 9.0 or 9.5 depending where you look. Over bettors will have to stomach extra juice on 8.5 while under bettors will have to do the same on 9.5.

Odds as of 10:17 am PT at Kalshi. Claim SBD’s exclusive Kalshi promo code.

CHI Cubs vs LA Dodgers Betting Splits

Looking at today’s MLB public betting splits, there is extreme consensus. A staggering 87.1% of the moneyline stake and 97.2% of the runline handle are backing the favorites. Furthermore, 91.6% of all total tickets and 88.2% of the handle have poured in on the Over.

However, the juice on the total has flipped entirely from the opening lines, making the Under more expensive at -115. Bookmakers shifting the price toward the Under against overwhelming public support perfectly aligns with my prediction of a low-scoring pitching duel. Fading the public here presents solid contrarian value.

CHC vs LAD Injury Reports

Both dugouts are navigating severely depleted rosters. The most glaring absence is Mookie Betts. Without his bat serving as the table-setter, Imanaga faces less traffic on the basepaths in the first inning, reinforcing the value of the Under.

The home bullpen is in crisis, as well. Missing high-leverage relievers Evan Phillips and Edwin Díaz means manager Dave Roberts lacks his usual shutdown security blanket. He will likely need to leave Wrobleski on the mound slightly longer than usual to eat innings, playing directly into the hands of a disciplined opposing lineup.

On the other side, the visitors are navigating life without their true ace, Justin Steele. Because both bullpens are battered and missing premium strikeout artists, expect both starting pitchers to grind deep into this contest to protect their fragile relief corps.