Updated August 3, 2026
The Dodgers roll into Wrigley Field as one of baseball's most complete rosters, and Monday night's series opener against the Chicago Cubs is an important one for two National League title contenders. Los Angeles sends out Justin Wrobleski, a breakout arm who has turned into one of the better performers in the National League, while Chicago counters with veteran lefty Matthew Boyd, who has been steady but a step behind his opponent all year. With the Dodgers at 69-43 and the Cubs at 63-49, this is the game of the night on the diamond on paper.
Wrobleski has been one of the best stories in baseball this season, sitting at 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and 87 strikeouts, filling a rotation void left by injuries to Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell. Boyd is a fine mid-rotation piece for Chicago at 6-1 with a 3.41 ERA and 60 strikeouts, but this lineup differential is significant. Los Angeles ranks third in the sport in scoring at 5.11 runs a game, and even with Will Smith and Kiké Hernández both sidelined, the group up and down the order still forces opposing pitchers into long, taxing innings.
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Total Parlay Odds: +385 (DraftKings)
The reasoning here is straightforward: Wrigley's wind patterns and both lineups' power totals support a game that clears 8.5 runs, and the Dodgers' superior top-to-bottom roster gives them a good chance to win by two runs or more against a Cubs bullpen that has been shaky in high-leverage spots. And with Boyd likely to take some damage in this contest from the lineup of the Dodgers, we'll take his under on strikeouts to close things out.
Shohei Ohtani to hit a home run, +356 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Ohtani has been Los Angeles' top power source in 2026 and continues to see quality pitches near the top of a deep lineup. Boyd has surrendered a fair share of hard contact to left-handed hitters this year, and Wrigley Field's carry on a warm August night gives extra life to well-struck fly balls. At plus money, this is a reasonable way to attach a Dodgers offensive angle to the card beyond the parlay above.
Category | Dodgers | Cubs |
|---|---|---|
Batting Average | .262 | .247 |
OPS | .772 | .750 |
wOBA | .337 | .330 |
wRC+ | 113 | 110 |
Team ERA | 3.64 | 4.09 |
xFIP | 3.88 | 4.24 |
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