Los Angeles Dodgers – Chicago Cubs Betting Tips & Predictions: MLB March 18
MLB Spring Training is in full swing and in the midst of these pre-season matches we are getting treated to an epic event – The MLB Tokyo Series 2025 which features a range of exhibition games.
Most notable of these are the two games between the Dodgers and Cubs that will take place on the 18th and 19th of March respectively in the impressive Tokyo Dome in Japan. Below, I take a look at this upcoming pre-season game together with betting odds and predictions from Bet365.
LA Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs match details
The Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan has been the host to numerous MLB games over the last two decades and once again for the pre-season we return here with a series of games between the LA Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.
Before the two matches, there will also be a series of international exhibitions between the Dodgers, Yomiuri Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Hanshin Tigers which I’m also looking forward to. However, the main event is definitely the opener and the match details are as follows:
- Date: Tuesday, March the 18th.
- Time: 19:00 JST.
- Venue: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan.
As a reminder, the Tokyo Dome has a capacity of 45,600 and is one of the most impressive international baseball stadiums I’ve ever seen. In terms of the match time, it’s set to start at 19:00 Japan Standard Time which is 06:00 am Eastern Standard Time so if you want to watch it live then you’re going to have an early start!
Tokyo Series odds examined
Despite this being a pre-season match, there’s still a heap of betting action for it and I’ve been looking at the odds offered for the first Dodgers vs. Cubs game at Bet365. The main betting lines are as follows:
- Moneyline: Dodgers -165, Cubs +140
- Spread: Dodger favorites at -1.5
- Over/Under: 8.5
Bet365 has the Dodgers as the firm favorite here and there’s no surprise – the defending World Series champions will be looking to make a statement on the global stage. They finished their Spring Training games off in decent form after beating the Diamondbacks and Guardians in their last two games.
Some other potentially decent wagers I picked out include some player and team props:
- Shohei Ohtani to make at least 1 hit: -275.
- Mookie Betts to make at least 2 bases: -115.
- Shohei Ohtani to make at least 1 home run: +220.
There’s a heap of different options available and if you’re a new customer to this sportsbook then you can also make use of the Bet365 sign up offer which can give you free bets or bonus money depending on your location.
My expectations for the Dodgers vs. Cubs Tokyo bash
The Dodgers have admittedly been hit and miss during the Spring Training and had plenty of losses. But, towards the second half of the pre-season they’ve been ramping things up and reminding people why they were the 2024 World Series Champions. I’m predicting that they will win both matches in the Tokyo Series and since 2019, their overall record against the Cubs is 20 wins and 14 losses, so they have the historical advantage.
Like the Dodgers, the Cubs have had an up and down pre-season so far and at the time of writing this they had lost two of their last 3 Spring Training games – one to the Giants and the other to the Brewers. They are the underdogs against the Dodgers but I’m still expecting a close and exciting battle!
Get ready for MLB 2025 with this epic pre-season exhibition match
I always love watching MLB international games as you get to see how different cultures enjoy baseball and I’m expecting the first match of the MLB Tokyo Series 2025 to be awesome entertainment! No doubt Shohei Ohtani will be looking to impress his home nation crowd and make a statement and the Dodgers will want to show the rest of the MLB teams that they are just as strong as last year.
For betting, don’t forget that you can make use of the Bet365 sign up bonus and at this point in time, the Dodgers are favorites with -165 on the moneyline. While I’m expecting them to win, as we know with international games where the teams face a different atmosphere and pressure, anything can happen!
