Since these teams met in Tokyo, the Cubs are 9-4 and the Dodgers are … 8-4. So which team is better? And the Cubs have, theoretically at least, faced better opponents (D-backs, Padres, Rangers) while the Dodgers have feasted on a Braves team in a tailspin.
Fun fact: Shohei Ohtani still isn’t close to returning to pitching duty, so he won’t face the Cubs this year (since the only other 2025 Cubs/Dodgers series is 11 days away at Wrigley Field, and Ohtani won’t be pitching by then). The Cubs are one of only five teams Ohtani has never pitched against. One of the other four is his former team, the Angels. The others: Brewers, Mets, Phillies.
For more on the Dodgers, please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site True Blue LA.
Fun fact
This will be the Cubs’ 121st series at Los Angeles against the Dodgers. They have won only 31 of the previous 120. They have swept a three-game series three times, in 1992, 1995 and 2005.
The Cubs won two of three games each of the past two years, winning the series opener both times. From 2015-22, they had not won a series there, splitting one and losing six, including sweeps of three and four games. They had won a total of six games and lost 18.
They have won consecutive series at Dodger Stadium a total of just five times. They made it three in a row once, winning two of three games in 1988, then twice in 1989. The other back-to-back wins were in 1968, 1972-73, 1994-95 and 2005-06.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
Friday: Matthew Boyd, LHP (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.182 WHIP, 2.54 FIP) vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP (1-1, 1.69 ERA, 1.063 WHIP, 3.37 FIP)
Saturday: Ben Brown, RHP (1-1, 7.71 ERA, 2.229 WHIP, 5.22 FIP) vs. Roki Sasaki, RHP (0-0, 4.15 ERA, 2.077 WHIP, 4.73 FIP)
Sunday: TBD vs. Tyler Glasnow, RHP (1-0, 6.43 ERA, 1.714 WHIP, 3.57 FIP)
Reading between the lines of this note from Tommy Birch, “TBD” on Sunday could very well be Jordan Wicks:
Jordan Wicks, who was originally scheduled to start after Cade Horton in the @IowaCubs pitching probables, is no longer listed as the next starter.
Do with that information as you will.
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) April 10, 2025
As always, we await developments.
Times & TV channels
Friday: 9:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Saturday: 8:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Sunday: 6:10 p.m. CT, ESPN
Prediction
At posting time, the Cubs had not yet announced a starter for Sunday. They could, with Thursday’s off day, go with Jameson Taillon on regular rest, or slot Colin Rea into what would have been a Justin Steele start.
The myth of the “invincible Dodgers” should have been busted this week when they lost two of three in Washington. The Dodgers, to be sure, are a very good team. So are the Cubs. Ben Brown is really the key here. If Brown can throw well, I think the Cubs might be able to steal two of three.
Up next
The Cubs travel down the coast to San Diego for a rematch three-game series with the Padres. That set begins Monday evening.
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