Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/7/2022

Time: 1:05 p.m. ET

Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, SportsNet LA

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Dodgers: 16-7

Cubs: 9-15

We as a baseball society will be treated to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs playing in a doubleheader because rain is a thing and Mother Nature is not the sport’s greatest friend, all things considered.

But the Dodgers will be sending Clayton Kershaw to the mound for the first of two to start playing the old baseball while the sun is still up. Do with that what you will considering six games were postponed on Friday but things are not meant to make sense. I should spend this whole time just talking about the rain but you came here for baseball … and maybe my weather expertise.

What we’ve seen this season is essentially chalk for both teams. The Dodgers are good, the Cubs are bad. The Dodgers have a stacked line-up 1-9, while the Cubs have a 1 and it probably would’ve ended up the exact same way.

The Dodgers are coming to a Wrigley Field on a three-game winning streak and just completed a two-game sweep at home against the San Francisco Giants to remind everyone that they’re the cream of the crop in the NL West right now. 

Not only did the Dodgers win, they essentially dominated. L.A. held the Giants to one run in consecutive games and won the last game 9-1 off the heels of homers from Mookie Betts and Max Muncy. Freddie Freeman even added a two-run triple, reminding everyone that the middle of this lineup is just unfair.

“I think collectively it was the best game we’ve played (offensively)," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Just a well-played offensive game.”

That’s one way to put it, and it’s something that should be expected at all times when it comes to the Dodgers. They should absolutely be beating these teams by 100 runs, or at the very least, 6-7. No one should be picky when it comes to the Dodgers when they’re trying to win another championship and have exhausted millions of dollars to do it. Maybe approaching billions, who knows?

And that’s where it’s a rough time for the Cubs right now. No one ever really expected them to contend this year, but at the very least they may have the NL Rookie of the Year in Seiya Suzuki while the rest of the Cubs try and play catch up. Chicago is coming off being swept by two games at the hands of the Chicago White Sox, the latest being 4-3 in the south side on Wednesday.

"That's a pretty frustrating (loss)," Cubs ace Kyle Hendricks said. "I thought we played pretty well, made some good plays out there, put together great at-bats. We had some chances there late. We just hit balls right at guys."

Oh, and Suzuki? 1-for-23 with eight strikeouts as of late. Things just aren’t peachy in Chicago right now and there’s really nothing more to it. Just an awful time to be playing the red-hot Dodgers at this point.

Clayton Kershaw is set to take the mound in Game 1 of the doubleheader, and you’d be hardpressed to have me think he won’t throw a gem on Saturday. Dodgers, heavy, in a runaway. Dodgers win 9-0

Dodgers are 6-1 this season against left-handed starters.

Dodgers are 76-30 the past three seasons after two straight home games.

Cubs are 7-5 the past three seasons as an underdog of +200 or more.

Dodgers:
Mookie Betts (R) RF
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Trea Turner (R) SS
Will Smith (R) C
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Justin Turner (R) DH
Cody Bellinger (L) CF
Chris Taylor (R) LF
Gavin Lux (L) 2B
SP - Clayton Kershaw

Cubs:
Alfonso Rivas (L) 1B
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Ian Happ (S) LF
Willson Contreras (R) C
Frank Schwindel (R) DH
Nico Hoerner (R) SS
Jason Heyward (L) CF
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Nick Madrigal (R) 2B
SP - TBD

Batting average: Freddie Freeman -- .299

Hits: Freddie Freeman -- 26

Home runs: Two tied -- 4

RBI: Trea Turner -- 19

Wins: Walker Buehler -- 3

Saves: Craig Kimbrel -- 5

ERA: Julio Urias

Batting average: Ian Happ -- .292

Hits: Two tied -- 21

Home runs: Patrick Wisdom -- 5

RBI: Two tied -- 15

Wins: Keegan Thompson -- 2

Saves: David Robertson -- 5

ERA: Marcus Stroman -- 5.13