The Los Angeles Dodgers close out their three-game set at Wrigley Field on Wednesday afternoon, and the betting market has handed the home team a curious edge. Chicago sits at 64-49, several games behind the 69-44 Dodgers in the overall standings, yet the Cubs are the moneyline favorite for this getaway-day matchup. The reason lives on the mound. Below we break down the pitching duel, the current numbers, and where the value sits before first pitch.
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL |
| When | Wednesday, August 5, 2026 — 2:20 PM ET |
| TV | Marquee Sports Network |
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
This game turns on a left-on-left starting pitching matchup, and it is not an even one. Chicago sends out Shota Imanaga, who carries a 7-9 record but a sharp 3.67 ERA and a WHIP hovering near 1.07. His win-loss record undersells him. Imanaga limits free passes and works around traffic, and that command is the profile of a pitcher who can keep a strong lineup off balance.
Los Angeles counters with Eric Lauer, who owns a 6-5 record and a 4.50 ERA. Lauer has pitched better than that ERA in a few recent outings, so the Dodgers are not walking into a mismatch. Still, his underlying numbers trail Imanaga’s across the board. The Cubs get the steadier arm, the home dugout, and the more predictable start. That combination is why oddsmakers flipped the script.
The standings tell a different story than the odds. The Dodgers are 69-44 and sit atop the National League West, while the Cubs are 64-49 and fighting through the NL Central race. Los Angeles has cooled over its last handful of games, though, and Chicago has been the steadier club of late. For more from this series, see our Dodgers-Cubs series coverage.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
| Run Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgers | +1.5 (-195) | +104 | U 9.5 (-120) |
| Cubs | -1.5 (+165) | -124 | O 9.5 (+100) |
Odds accurate as of August 5, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest MLB Odds – Futures – Props
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Dodgers | 67% | 33% | Cubs |
See the latest MLB Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Dodgers vs. Cubs Prediction — Does the Better Record Win at Wrigley?
Start with the arms, because that is where this game is decided. Imanaga has been the more reliable starter all year, and his command travels well against a deep Dodgers order. When a control lefty keeps the ball out of the middle and avoids the big inning, he shortens the game and hands leads to his bullpen. Lauer, by contrast, has to grind. His ERA is respectable, but his margin for error is thinner against a lineup this dangerous. The pitching edge points toward Chicago.
The market backs that read. The Cubs are the favorite despite a worse record, and the near-even prices on both sides signal a game oddsmakers expect to stay close. Home teams with the better starter in a coin-flip matchup are exactly the spot where value hides on the moneyline. Chicago also owns the more comfortable recent form heading into a familiar day game.
The case against is real, and it starts with the Dodgers’ roster. Los Angeles has the deeper lineup and the star power to erase a pitching gap in a single swing. One rough Imanaga inning, or one Lauer gem, flips the result. This is a lean, not a lock. The value comes from taking the better pitcher at home in a game priced as a toss-up, not from any certainty about the outcome.
The Pick: Chicago Cubs Moneyline (-124)
Dodgers vs. Cubs Prediction — Will The Bullpens Define The Total This Afternoon?
The total sits at 9.5, and the market has nudged the juice toward the under since the number opened. That move fits the matchup. Two left-handed starters take the mound, and Imanaga in particular thrives on quiet innings and low pitch counts. When both starters can work into the middle innings, fewer runs cross the plate and the bullpens carry less of the load.
The other side deserves a fair hearing. The Dodgers can turn any afternoon into a track meet, and Wrigley Field rewards fly balls when conditions cooperate. Imanaga has been prone to the occasional long ball, and one crooked inning can wreck an under in a hurry. Still, the modest line movement and the control-heavy pitching profiles line up behind the lower side of the total.
The Pick: Under 9.5 (-120)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
This is a pitching-first read from top to bottom. The Cubs earned favorite status the hard way, by handing the ball to the better arm on a day their opponent is missing a step. The public leans hard on the Dodgers’ run line at plus 1.5, but that number is priced at heavy juice, so the popular side offers little real value. The cleaner edges sit on the Chicago moneyline and the under.
Watch the early innings closely. If Imanaga is spotting his fastball and working ahead in counts, both the Cubs’ moneyline and the under gain strength together. If Lauer matches him zero for zero, the low-scoring script holds. The swing moment is any middle-inning jam, since that is where a control lefty either escapes clean or gives up the multi-run frame that changes everything.
To recap the card: Chicago Cubs Moneyline (-124) and Under 9.5 (-120). Both plays rest on the same foundation, which is the edge Imanaga brings to the mound in a game the market already sees as a coin flip.
MLB Dodgers vs. Cubs FAQ: Wednesday August 5, 2026
What time does the Dodgers vs. Cubs game start?
First pitch is set for 2:20 PM ET, which is 1:20 PM local time in Chicago. It is a Wednesday afternoon getaway-day game at Wrigley Field, the finale of the three-game series between the Dodgers and Cubs.
What channel is the Dodgers vs. Cubs game on?
The game airs on Marquee Sports Network, the Cubs’ regional home. Viewers outside the Chicago market should check their local listings, as regional broadcast availability varies by location and provider.
Who is pitching for the Cubs on Wednesday?
Left-hander Shota Imanaga is the probable starter for the Cubs, carrying a 7-9 record and a 3.67 ERA. The Dodgers counter with left-hander Eric Lauer, who owns a 6-5 record and a 4.50 ERA. Both teams send southpaws to the mound.
Where are the Dodgers and Cubs playing today?
The game is at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, the Cubs’ home ballpark. Los Angeles is the road team for this series finale, wrapping up a three-game visit to the North Side before both clubs move on.
What are the Dodgers and Cubs records this season?
The Dodgers enter at 69-44 and lead the National League West. The Cubs enter at 64-49 and remain firmly in the National League Central race. Los Angeles holds the better overall mark, but the two clubs are much closer than the standings gap suggests on this day.