Cubs vs. Dodgers Predictions, Picks, Odds & Starting Pitchers: Today, 4/11
After most of the MLB had off yesterday to swap their series, which was the case for both the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, they now get their matchup started with the nightcap of the slate. It’s also a rematch of the Japan Series to tee off the MLB season, and we’ve got our top Cubs vs. Dodgers predictions for tonight.
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Cubs vs. Dodgers Predictions For MLB on MLB Network, 4/11
For those that may have only started their 2025 MLB experience on March 27 with Opening Day, the season technically got started about a week prior over in Japan with a two-game Cubs vs. Dodgers series. Given that those games were before most fans were awake, we understand if you didn’t tune in.
It was Los Angeles that came away with victories in both of those games to start their undefeated streak to the year, but since then, the Cubs have also worked their way to the top of the NL Central. Now, Chicago has just one fewer win than LA, setting us up for a great weekend series ahead.
We’ve also got a starter on the mound that we saw in the Japan Series to look back on to help us lock in the best bet from our Cubs vs. Dodgers predictions.
Chicago Cubs: Justin Steele To The IL
A starter that we won’t see on the mound today is Cubs starter Justin Steele. He’s a lefty that Chicago would prefer to have on the mound despite a terrible first start against these same Dodgers in Japan. He followed up that loss by going 3-0, most recently pitching a full seven innings against the Texas Rangers.
Steele also recorded eight strikeouts in that outing, but it’s elbow tendinitis that will derail that win streak for now. However, with how well the Dodgers tend to hit lefties, perhaps it will be best for the Cubs in this series specifically. Nevermind - Chicago is sending lefty starter Matthew Boyd to the mound tonight.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Freddie Freeman Expected To Return
While the storyline in Chicago is the placement of a key player ON the injured list, in Los Angeles, it’s all about a superstar Freddie Freeman coming OFF the IL. He’s a perennial MVP candidate, but it wasn’t exactly an MVP-caliber moment that led to his placement on the IL to begin with.
Freeman had surgery on his right ankle a while ago now, but it was him slipping in the shower that landed him on the IL retroactive to March 31. Regardless, he’s been taking live batting practice the past few days, and with the Dodgers back at home after their win over the Washington Nationals, everything is setting up for a Freddie Freeman return tonight.
How To Watch Cubs vs. Dodgers Today
Speaking of being back at Dodger Stadium, you won’t need to wake up at 4 AM like you did to watch the Japan Series. In fact, it’s quite the opposite with it being the final game of the night. Here’s more regarding how to watch Cubs vs. Dodgers today:
- Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California
- When: 10:10 PM ET on 4/11
- Watch on TV: MLB Network
- Where to stream: Fubo, MLB.TV
Cubs vs. Dodgers Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
Before we turn our attention to Cubs vs. Dodgers player props for our best bet, here are the latest Cubs vs. Dodgers odds for the standard markets:
- Run Line: Chicago Cubs +1.5 (-135) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+115)
- Money Line: Chicago Cubs (+165) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (-200)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 8 (-110) vs. Under 8 (-110)
Cubs vs. Dodgers Best Bet: Kyle Tucker Over 1.5 Total Bases (Use Player Projections For Underdog Contests)
We noted that Chicago will be opening this series with a lefty even with Justin Steele headed to the IL, but it’s not that matchup that we’re focused on for the best bet from our Cubs vs. Dodgers predictions.
That’s because while LA absolutely mashes lefties more often than not, especially with a Freddie Freeman return, Cubs starter Matthew Boyd has surprisingly had success against the Dodgers. As recently as last September, Boyd was able to record a win over LA by holding them to just three hits over a full six innings of work.
So, rather than trusting either side of that matchup to perform, the plan was to take advantage of Roki Sasaki’s slow start as a Dodger; however, the Dodgers decided to swap to their Japanese starter acquisition from two offseasons ago instead - Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He started the season for LA, which was a win over these Cubs.
There’s no doubt that he’s been off to a better start than Roki Sasaki, but we’re still comfortable grabbing some great value with a Chicago hitter, specifically, Kyle Tucker. The former Houston Astro is on track to be one of the best hitters in the entire MLB, and while it’s certainly early to say that, he’s hitting .322 right now.
Most importantly for total bases, a .678 slugging percentage. Kyle Tucker has also done his fair share of damage against the Dodgers as an Astro. Before joining the Cubs, Tucker recorded at least a hit in five straight games against LA, three of which included either multiple hits or an extra-base hit.
With that type of success, we’re locking in the best bet from our Cubs vs. Dodgers predictions on Kyle Tucker over 1.5 total bases (check out all MLB hitter projections at Underdog).
Cubs vs. Dodgers Injury Report & Starting Pitchers
You’ve already seen the latest Cubs vs. Dodgers injury news with Justin Steele and Freddie Freeman, and until we see it, it’s always worth pointing out that Shohei Ohtani is still working towards getting back to the mound rather than only being in the lineup.
We’d also be remiss not to mention lifetime Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw still on the 60-day IL along with starters Blake Snell and Tony Gonsolin on the 15-day IL. For Cubs vs. Dodgers injury news in Chicago, the other most notable would be starter Javier Assad on the 15-day IL.
To reiterate tonight’s Cubs vs. Dodgers starters…
- Chicago Cubs starting pitcher today: Matthew Boyd (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
- Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher today: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-1, 1.69 ERA)
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Player News
Twins placed OF Matt Wallner on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 16, with a left hamstring strain.
As anticipated, Wallner lands on the injured list after injuring his hamstring during Tuesday’s ballgame. There’s still no word on the severity of the strain or how much time Wallner stands to miss. Jonah Bride — who was acquired from the Marlins — was added to the Twins’ roster in a corresponding move on Thursday.
Wyatt Langford (oblique) will begin a minor league rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco on Thursday.
The 23-year-old budding superstar will serve as the designated hitter on Thursday night before easing his way back into the outfield. Langford wanted to skip the rehab assignment altogether, so as long as he shows that he’s ready to go, there’s a chance that the Rangers could bring him back at some point during their weekend series against the Dodgers.
Kyle Schwarber went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs on Thursday afternoon, propelling the Phillies to a 6-4 victory over the visiting Giants.
Schwarber got the Phillies on the board with a go-ahead two-run single off of Jordan Hicks and then scored on a wild pitch as part of a five-run opening inning. He also reached on an infield single in the fifth inning but was left stranded there. The 32-year-old slugger is off to a strong start to the 2025 campaign, slashing .284/.435/.597 with six homers, 14 RBI and a stolen base in his first 85 plate appearances.
José Alvarado notched his fourth save of the season on Thursday, protecting a two-run advantage in the ninth inning against the Giants.
The 29-year-old left-hander came on with a three-run lead to protect, but things got a bit closer as he served up a one-out solo homer to Tyler Fitzgerald. After getting Wilmer Flores on a ground ball to shortstop, Alvarado walked Jung Hoo Lee to bring the tying run to the plate before retiring Christian Koss on a fielder’s choice to end it. He appears to be locked in as the preferred ninth inning option for manager Rob Thomson and should continue to provide plenty of fantasy value for as long as he remains healthy and stationed there.
Cristopher Sanchez picked up his second victory of the season on Thursday, racking up a season-high 12 strikeouts over seven innings against the Giants.
The 28-year-old southpaw allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk. The Giants scratched out a run against him in the first inning on a two-out RBI single by Matt Chapman. Sanchez then served up a two-run homer to Chapman in the sixth after Heliot Ramos had reached on an error. He got a whopping 24 swings and misses on 97 pitches in the ballgame — 22 of those on his changeup alone — while posting an elite CSW of 40 percent. Now 2-0 on the season, Sanchez will carry a 2.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 31/6 K/BB ratio (24 1/3 innings) into Tuesday’s showdown against the Mets in New York.
Matt Chapman went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI on Thursday, accounting for most of the Giants’ offense in a losing effort against the Phillies.
Chapman got the Giants on the board first with an RBI single off of Cristopher Sanchez in the opening inning. He then tagged him for a 372-foot (100.6 mph EV) two-run shot in the sixth inning that pulled the Giants to within two runs at 5-3. That would be as close as they would get. With his two-hit attack, the 31-year-old third baseman is now hitting .239/.386/.418 with three homers, 12 RBI and two stolen bases through his first 19 games.