The MLB Tokyo Series between the Dodgers and Cubs begins on Tuesday, 6 a.m. ET. It marks the official beginning of the 2025 MLB season, with all other games starting on March 27th. Below, I’ll give you some of my favorite bets on DraftKings Sportsbook. Be sure to follow DraftKings Network throughout the baseball season for our MLB coverage, featuring bets, DFS plays, and news.
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Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Pick: Game total over 7.5 runs -118
On paper, we have a stellar pitching matchup between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga. However, I like the over on this one. Both starters haven’t been particularly sharp during Spring Training, especially when you consider they’re facing below-average lineups. Yamamoto has allowed six runs on 15 hits through 13 innings while Imanaga has allowed seven runs on nine hits in 11 innings. Both pitchers have great K/BB ratios but opposing hitters are making good contact.
Imanaga is in a tough spot against a Dodgers lineup that is poised to smash lefties, even without Mookie Betts. Aside from the usual suspects, guys like Tommy Edman and Michael Conforto (yes, even still) have great numbers against southpaws. While many suggest Conforto’s better days are behind him, he still had a .377 wOBA with a 145 wRC+ vs. LHP last year. This Dodgers lineup is an onslaught of talent against lefties.
The Cubs’ addition of Kyle Tucker brings a presence that was missing last year. He’s an elite fastball hitter and boasts a .493 wOBA against that pitch from righties last season. He, Ian Happ, and Seiya Suzuki could set the tone quickly, as all three hit fastballs well. Yamamoto relies on that pitch, throwing it 40% of the time in 2024. Especially this early in the year, that number could easily be much higher to start.
If you want to see the betting splits for this game, be sure to visit the DraftKings Network betting splits page to see how the public is betting! Below you’ll see a screen grab for the betting data as of Monday, March 17 at 10:30 a.m.
Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Pick: Kyle Tucker over 1.5 H/R/RBI -110
As mentioned above, Tucker is an elite fastball hitter and I wouldn’t be surprised if he made a quick impact in his Cubs debut. Combining his numbers against fastballs and split fingers, which are Yamamoto’s two main pitches, Tucker had a .450 wOBA with a .646 SLG against them. The hitters he’s expected to hit in between, Happ and Suzuki, also have solid numbers against fastballs. This should put Tucker in a great spot to go over his H/R/RBI prop which is set at 1.5 at -110. I was surprised this was only at -110 when you take into account his numbers against these pitches.
Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Pick: SGP: Tucker/Edman/Conforto to record a hit +208
This is a simple and easy SGP that I like for this game. Kyle Tucker, Tommy Edman, and Michael Conforto all to record a hit, which is at +208. I think all of these guys are in a great spot to open the season and I’ll be looking for them to have at least a hit in this game.
I also have this Same Game Parlay up on DraftKings Sportsbook that you can take as well.
Follow me on Twitter for daily MLB picks and info @SBuchanan24.
