MLB Free Pick Wednesday April 24th: Dodgers at Cubs
LA a Strange Favorite at Wrigley Field
The Cubs battled to a 7-2 series opening win over the Dodgers in Chicago on Tuesday. For Joe Maddon’s squad it was 6th win in the last 7 games yet Los Angeles comes into the April 24th MLB free pick as -120 favorites. Chicago has Cole Hamels on the hill, who has been lights out while LA’s Walker Buehler has been wildly inconsistent. What’s missing in this game that should be a -110 toss up at minimum?
Which Buehler Shows Up Wednesday Night?
Granted there’s not bad value in Los Angeles in the April 24th MLB free pick as the Dodgers just finished taking 3 of 4 from the Brewers at Miller Park. That being said, their starting pitcher Walker Buehler is an enigma for tonight. The right-hander has made four starts so far this season. In two of those outings, he surrendered one total ER while giving up a combined 6 hits. In the other two starts however, Buehler was rocked for 10ER and lasted just 7 IP. Walker made one start vs. the Cubs last season, allowing 5ER in just 1 IP.
The Dodgers offense has been somewhat contained lately despite the fact that they are 7-3 over their last 10 and in 1st in the West. Los Angeles has been held to 3 runs or less in 4 of the last 6, including getting just 4 hits off Chicago left-hander Jose Quintana on Tuesday. Only three Dodgers players are hitting over .250 over the past week and they’re up against another Southpaw at Wrigley tonight.
Do Cubs Get the Offense Going Again?
Chicago went on to win the series opener 7-2 which was a welcome sight for their offense after scoring just 2 runs total on Saturday and Sunday. The Cubs got to Buehler in their only appearance against the Dodgers starter, with Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward both hitting doubles in their only AB while Albert Almora added a HR. Chicago is an incredibly tempting +100 underdog in the April 24th MLB free pick, especially if Javier Baez continues to rake. Baez is 4 for his last 6 with a 2B, 3B and HR the past two games.
Besides their offense, another reason the Cubs are a mystifying underdog Wednesday is because Cole Hamels is on the hill. Hamels had a rough start to the season, allowing 5ER in 5IP to Texas but since then he’s been magical. The left hander has allowed just 3ER total in the last three starts, throwing 21 innings. Hamels has mastered his control, posting 19 K’s to 0 walks over that span.
April 24th MLB Free Pick Betting
The Cubs seem like a solid play on Wednesday a) being at home, b) because Hamels has been dominant, and c) because they hit Buehler well the only time they’ve faced him and the Dodgers starter has been iffy this season. Therefore Chicago being an underdog seems like a trap play. It seems that maybe the Cubs offense does go dormant in this one – as they’ve been apt to do at times the last couple days. The veteran Hamels should be his solid self which equates to a low scoring game.
MLB Free Pick: Dodgers / Cubs *Under* 8
