Cubs' Dark Horse Imanaga Set to Shock Dodgers in Epic Season Opener

Welcome to yet another fascinating showdown as the Dodgers take on the Cubs, this time at a crisp 7:40 PM ET . Ah, baseball! The season’s still young, with teams barely crossing the 30-game mark, yet here we are, watching the same matchups again and again. Is this some quirky strategy to make sure intra-division foes clash more intensely as the season winds down? It’s like a chess game, but with more hot dogs and less castle movement.

The Dodgers, well, they kicked off the season like a superhero team, invincible, unstoppable. But as we often see, that superhero glow tends to fade, injuries creep up, and suddenly, those kryptonite road games start to weigh heavier. Tonight, they’re riding on Dustin May, who’s been as reliable as a Swiss watch with an ERA that makes you blink twice to check if you’re seeing it right. But, has he really been tested? The Cubs are an enigma wrapped in a riddle, served with a side of historical prowess. They could either sweep the NL or be watching the playoffs at home. With Imanaga on the mound, who’s been about as hit-friendly as a brick wall this season, it’s hard not to feel intrigued by what might unfold.

I’ve watched seasons flip on moments like this one. The intrigue, the unpredictability, it’s what keeps us glued to our screens (and sometimes our phones, because watching baseball live can be tough ). So, who’s your bet? A team looking to find their road footing or a well-rounded crew, quietly waiting to surprise us? Are the Dodgers ready to adapt, or has the Cubs’ strategy to make every hit count going to pay off? Dive in, as we uncover the strategy, the thrills, and maybe even a few surprises in tonight’s duel. LEARN MORE

Dodgers vs. Cubs, 7:40 ET

The baseball season doesn’t even have 30 games completed for teams, but I feel like some matchups are happening over and over again. We have some teams playing basically their entire season series against each other within the first few weeks of the game. I wonder if that is so divisional teams have to face each other more down the stretch? It would be a cool idea if it were. These two teams, the Dodgers and Cubs, start another series. It will be the sixth and seventh games (and last) for the season in 26 or fewer games for the teams. 

The Dodgers started the season looking superhuman as if no one would be able to beat them. I think we all knew eventually they would cool off a bit. The pitching staff will be a question mark as it hasn’t seemed like they can stay healthy for years now. All the big name arms in the world mean nothing if they are all unavailable. They did start losing some games, and most of that has coincided with the road games taking place as they are 16-7 overall and just 6-5 away from Dodger Stadium. Looking to give them a chance here tonight against the Cubs is Dustin May. May is 1-1 with a 1.06 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP for the season. He hasn’t faced a team that has a great lineup – aside from the Braves, but they were struggling significantly when May faced them. He’s a talented pitcher, not trying to take anything away from him, but this will be a test. Cubs hitters haven’t had much exposure to May going just 5-for-18 against him. 

The Cubs are one of those clubs that could do anything from win the World Series this year to not make the playoffs and you probably wouldn’t be surprised. They made a splash in the offseason by getting Kyle Tucker away from the Astros and that has worked out to this point. Like the Dodgers, they have some questions on their pitching staff, but overall, the team is pretty balanced. They have a surprisingly good defense, so if you’re going to get runs on them, you need to string together hits rather than hope for an error. Shota Imanaga will be the guy trying to avoid hits for the Cubs. Imanaga has been phenomenal since joining Chicago last year. This season, he is 2-1 with a 2.22 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He did face the Dodgers already this season, going four hitless innings (he did walk four batters). Overall, Dodgers hitters are batting just .176 against him in 51 at-bats. 

Both starters look really good to start the season. This isn’t the first time May has seen action in the rotation as he was a big part last season. I’m not as sure that he can keep up this great work as I am about Imanaga. I also think the Cubs can take this game behind Imanaga and the fact that the Dodgers haven’t found their road footing yet. Back the Cubs to win this one. 

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