Dodgers Vs. Cubs MLB Odds For Tokyo Series: Best Prices & Betting Preview
The MLB season begins with a bit of an appetizer as the Dodgers and Cubs face off in the Tokyo Series more than a week before opening day proper (March 27). Those teams will play the first of more than 2,400 regular-season MLB games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Read on for key information about the Tokyo Series, including the best Dodgers vs. Cubs odds, starting pitchers, and U.S. TV times/schedule.
What Time Is Dodgers Vs. Cubs?
Before betting on Dodgers vs. Cubs odds, it's essential to know that the games begin at 6:10 a.m. ET on Tuesday and Wednesday. Therefore, most bettors want to get their action down the nights before (Monday and Tuesday).
Viewers can catch the opener on FOX and the second game on FS1.
How Will The Tokyo Dome PLay?
Handicapping for the ballpark is an integral part of betting MLB odds. In recent years, fans have seen some high-scoring contests in games played outside of MLB parks. For instance, the Padres and Giants combined for 27 runs at high altitude in Mexico City two years ago. And in the 2020-21 seasons, offenses thrived at Sahlen Field when the Jays played their home games in a Triple-A park.
Will the Tokyo Dome follow suit?
Well, maybe. Baseball Savant has tracked a handful of MLB games there across five seasons. It tagged the Tokyo Dome as a pitcher-favored park in four of those five seasons, with the average park factor coming out to 90. That means offense would be depressed by 10%, ranking it the most pitcher-favored park in the majors.
However, according to an old FanGraphs piece, it has generally played as a slightly hitter-favored park. Most sources seem to agree that home-run power, in particular, plays up there.
Since MLB hitters have far more power on average than their Japanese counterparts, that could cause even more of a shift toward the offenses.
A map of the stadium looks a bit similar to Dodger Stadium, albeit with more foul ground. Dodger Stadium has a three-year rolling park factor of 100, making it precisely average, but it's above average in the home-run department.
With that out of the way, let's look at Dodgers vs. Cubs odds, including pitching matchups and key lineup info.
Dodgers Vs. Cubs Odds, Game 1 (Yamamoto Vs. Imanaga)
The first thing to note about these games is that Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts has fallen ill and will miss both games. That will seriously impact their lineup, although if any team can lose an elite player and not care, it's probably the Dodgers.
Betts' absence aside, the Dodgers have essentially brought back their entire lineup, which led MLB in wRC+ last year. They were robust against lefties, and the Cubs will start one in Shota Imanaga.
Imanaga enjoyed a stellar debut last year with a 2.91 ERA and estimators that are weaker than that but still quite good (~3.5).
Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the bump for L.A. He also put together a promising effort in his first stateside season (3.00 ERA, 3.44 xERA). However, he notably got shelled by the Padres in his debut in Korea, surrendering 5 ER in just 1 IP.
Dodgers Vs. Cubs Odds, Game 2 (Sasaki Vs. Steele)
In the second game, the Cubs will throw another lefty, Justin Steele. He has put together three consecutive outstanding seasons, with an ERA just north of 3.00.
Steele relies heavily on a cutter that he throws about 60% of the time. The Dodgers were a bit weaker against cutters (12th in MLB) than their offense overall.
Steele also excels at preventing home runs. He might be well-suited for the Tokyo Dome.
The Dodgers will make it three Japanese exports out of four starters for the series, throwing Roki Sasaki. The rookie phenom was the consensus best player in the world outside of MLB before crossing the pond this offseason. He easily tops MLB Rookie of the Year odds on the NL side.
Sasaki dealt with an injury last season and didn't perform at his best. He only threw 111 innings. Watch for a possible early hook here as the Dodgers look to play the long game with their young phenom. A live betting opportunity may exist here if Sasaki dominates early and the Dodgers grab a slight lead.
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