Chicago Cubs vs. LA Dodgers Pick 6/16/19

Chicago Cubs (39-31) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (47-24), 6/16/19
Time: 7:05 pm ET Sunday, June 16
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Listed Pitchers: Jose Quintana (4-6, 3.89 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-1, 1.36, 0.80)
TV: ESPN

Moneyline: Dodgers -185/Cubs +165
Over/Under: 8

The Dodgers took the first two games of this four-game series at Chavez Ravine but the Cubs rallied to take Game 3 Saturday. Which way are we going for our free MLB prediction on Sunday night’s series finale?

MLB Betting Odds

Sunday’s MLB betting odds opened LA and Ryu at around -215 over Chicago and Quintana, with an over/under of eight runs. Early betting action then dipped that line to around -185.

Cubs vs. Dodgers Set-Up

Los Angeles grabbed the opener of this series Thursday night 7-3, then won Friday 5-3. But Chicago rallied late to take Saturday’s game 2-1, cashing in as a +165 dog on the MLB betting odds. So with a win Sunday the Cubbies would earn a split.

Chicago trailed LA Saturday 1-0 into the top of the ninth, but Anthony Rizzo drilled a two-run homer off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen to steal the W.

With Saturday’s victory Chicago is 2-4 over its last six games. At 39-31 overall the Cubbies are now tied with Milwaukee for the lead in the NL Central.

With Saturday’s loss Los Angeles is 4-5 over its last nine games. At 47-24 overall the Dodgers lead the NL West by 9.5 games over both the Rockies and Diamondbacks, and they’re six games ahead of Atlanta in the battle for the best record in the National League.

This season series between these two teams is tied at three games apiece.

Sunday’s Starting Arms

Lefty Ryu, in a bid to start the All-Star game for the National League, is 11/13 on quality starts, working on a streak of nine in a row. Monday he held the Angels to one run and seven hits through six innings of a game Los Angeles eventually lost 5-3. And over his last nine starts he’s allowed just six runs and 46 hits through 65 2/3 innings. That’s a 0.82 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP.

LA is 9-4 with Ryu this season, 6-1 over his last seven starts.

Ryu’s last start against Chicago came back in April of 2017, when he got nicked for five runs in less than five frames of a 4-0 Dodgers loss.

Fellow southpaw Quintana is 7/13 on quality starts this season, but only one for his last four. Tuesday he gave up four runs – three earned – on five hits and four walks through 4 2/3 innings of a 10-1 Cubs loss to Colorado. And over his last four starts he’s allowed 13 ER and 27 hits through 21 1/3 innings.

The Cubbies are 6-7 with Quintana this season, 0-4 over his last starts.

Over his last two starts against Los Angeles, one last year and one back in April of this season, Quintana gave up five runs and 11 hits through 12 1/3 innings Chicago won both those games.

Sunday’s Batting Splits

Chicago is batting .241/.329/.450 against left-handed pitching this season. But Cubs bats have also scored a total of just eight runs through the first three games of this series.

Los Angeles is batting .255/.340/.436 against LH pitching this season. But Dodgers bats have also been held to three runs or less six times in their last nine games.

The Bullpens

The Cubs bullpen owns a 4.17 ERA this season and a 1.44 WHIP.

After blowing Saturday’s game the Dodgers pen now owns a 4.29 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.

Totals Report

• Overs are 37-32 in Cubs games this season.
• Totals are split 34-34 in Dodgers games this season.
• Overs are 17-15 in games played at Dodger Stadium this season.
• Totals are split 13-13 in games started by Ryu and Quintana this season.
• Overs are 4-2 in Cubs-Dodgers games this season.

Free MLB Pick

LA and Ryu own the advantage in the pitching match-up, but with other factors basically equaling out we see betting value here with Chicago at the tempting underdog price. So we’re going with the Cubbies for our free MLB pick for Sunday.