Dodgers vs Cubs in the MLB Tokyo Series marks the beginning of the 2025 season, and our baseball betting experts have come through with three MLB best bets for Tuesday, March 18.
Among their Dodgers vs Cubs predictions are prop picks for starting pitchers Shota Imanaga and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, plus star outfielder Kyle Tucker.
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MLB Best Bets, Prop Picks & Predictions — 3/18
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| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| [teammatchup link=”#1″ firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Chicago Cubs” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png”][/teammatchup] | 6:10 a.m. | |
| [teammatchup link=”#2″ firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Chicago Cubs” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png”][/teammatchup] | 6:10 a.m. | |
| [teammatchup link=”#3″ firstfullname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” firstlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” secondfullname=”Chicago Cubs” secondlogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png”][/teammatchup] | 6:10 a.m. | |
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Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our MLB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game.
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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Charlie Wright’s Dodgers vs Cubs Best Bet: Shota Imanaga Strikeouts”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Shota Imanaga Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-135)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” awayname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” awayslug=”los-angeles-dodgers” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png” homename=”Chicago Cubs” homeslug=”chicago-cubs” date=”Tuesday, March 18″ time=”6:10 a.m. ET” network=”FOX” bookname=”DraftKings ” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/477013_DraftKings@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”draftkings”][/gameheader]
By Charlie Wright
WE. ARE. BACK.
Just like last season, I’ll be fading the pitchers in this opening international series. The Dodgers and Padres approached the 2024 games similarly to spring training, limiting starting pitchers and using a steady stream of relievers. Michael King actually came out of the bullpen and earned the win in the second game.
Cubs starter Shota Imanaga got up to 75 pitches in his final spring training outing. I’m expecting him to max out at 75-80 pitches in this start.
It’s rare to see starters pushed much early in the season, even in normal circumstances, and these early international games provide an extra hurdle. The Cubs have additional incentive to be cautious with Imanaga after there were reports about his velocity being down. The results certainly showed it — he allowed seven earned runs in 11 innings, including three homers.
The Dodgers were the third-toughest strikeout matchup for left-handed pitchers last season. They were one of four teams with a sub-20% K% vs. southpaws. The Dodgers will have Tommy Edman for a full season, giving them another low-strikeout bat in the lineup. They still have Miguel Rojas and Kiké Hernandez on hand as low-strikeout platoon options against LHP.
No matter how the lineup shakes out, it should be a challenging spot for Imanaga. He was at almost exactly a strikeout per inning last season (9.03 K/9), and I have major questions about his length in this outing.
It’s going to be tough for him to last long enough to reach five strikeouts against this lineup. In addition to their lack of strikeouts, the Dodgers also ranked first or second in OPS, wOBA and wRC+ against LHP in 2024.
Pick: Shota Imanaga Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-135)
Editor’s Note: This line has moved from +100 to -135.
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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Nick Galaida’s Dodgers vs Cubs Best Bet: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Outs”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Yoshinobu Yamamoto Over 14.5 Outs (-125)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” awayname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” awayslug=”los-angeles-dodgers” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png” homename=”Chicago Cubs” homeslug=”chicago-cubs” date=”Tuesday, March 18″ time=”6:10 a.m. ET” network=”FOX” bookname=”DraftKings ” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/477013_DraftKings@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”draftkings”][/gameheader]
By Nick Galaida
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been aggressively ramping up his workload was up to 75 pitches in his final tune-up outing against the Diamondbacks. He completed five innings in that matchup, putting him in an excellent position to do the same on Tuesday against the Cubs.
Chicago’s lineup should be improved from a season ago with the additions of Kyle Tucker and Matt Shaw, plus the return of a healthy Seiya Suzuki.
That being said, five innings is a very attainable bar for Yamamoto in this spot given that he’s already stretched out to near 80 pitches.
If he’s relatively effective here, this is tremendous value.
Pick: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Over 14.5 Outs (-125)
Editor’s Note: This line has moved from +105 to -125.
[anchor name=”3″][/anchor]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Nick Galaida’s Dodgers vs Cubs Best Bet: Kyle Tucker Combo”][/subheader]
[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Kyle Tucker Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI (-110)” league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-los-angeles-dodgers.png” awayname=”Los Angeles Dodgers” awayslug=”los-angeles-dodgers” homelogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/08/2023-mlb-logo-chicago-cubs.png” homename=”Chicago Cubs” homeslug=”chicago-cubs” date=”Tuesday, March 18″ time=”6:10 a.m. ET” network=”FOX” bookname=”BetMGM” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/779359_BetMGM800x200@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”betmgm”][/gameheader]
By Nick Galaida
Tucker had only one hit in 30 plate appearances during Spring Training, but that isn’t much cause for concern.
In 2022, Tucker had a .227 batting average and 30 wRC+ in Spring Training, but he went on to hit 30 home runs in 140 games during the regular season.
Simply put, Tucker is one of the best hitters in baseball. In 2023, he was one of only 18 hitters to finish in the top 75 in xwOBA against all major pitch types. Last season, he finished in the top 50 in xwOBA against fastballs and breaking balls. He was one of only four hitters (min. 300 plate appearances) in 2024 to walk more frequently than he struck out. Oh, and he had a 12.7% barrel rate as well.
This season, Tucker will hit in the top half of a talented Cubs lineup, which should give him plenty of RBI opportunities with Seiya Suzuki likely to hit directly in front of him.
Of course, Tucker also gets on base at a high rate and has capable bats behind him as well. This line would be more appropriately priced at over/under 2.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs, even against a formidable starting pitcher in Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Pick: Kyle Tucker Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI (-110)
Editor’s Note: This line has moved from +105 to -110.
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