La La Land Night Cap
Round 2 of the Los Angeles Dodgers–Los Angeles Angels series comes after a surprising Game 1 upset (maybe thanks to the umps? 🤔). Meanwhile, Game 1 of a three-game set between the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays gets underway north of the border.
The Cubs have seen the Milwaukee Brewers’ division lead swell from just one game to six over the past week and a half. The Blue Jays are hovering just above the Boston Red Sox, with four games separating them, as they push for the division crown after investing heavily in stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
📺 Today's TV Games
- ⚾ Chicago Cubs @ Toronto Blue Jays – TBS
🎯 Pick'em 10 (7:07pm ET/4:07pm PT)
⚾ Chicago Cubs @ Toronto
Ben Brown’s sophomore season with the Cubs has taken a sharp downturn. Over his last seven starts, he’s posted an 8.10 ERA, allowing six or more earned runs in four of those outings. His high strikeout rate is offset by giving up plenty of hits (and the occasional long ball). With Toronto hitting .313 and sporting an .896 OPS over the past month, expect their bats to be aggressive and looking for big contact early.
José Berríos has been the opposite of Brown — low strikeouts, limited hits — averaging less than one hit per inning for the season. However, recent outings show a dip in form, with hits allowed climbing above one per inning and a 5.71 ERA(compared to his season’s 3.89 ERA). The Cubs’ offense will need to wake up to exploit Berríos’ slump, but as a unit they’ve been underperforming. Ian Happ has been a bright spot, hitting .294 with an .871 OPS over the last week, while Pete Crow-Armstrong has struggled (.100 average, .200 OPS in the same span).
🔹 Kyle Tucker – Over/Under 0.5 Walks
🔹 Pete Crow-Armstrong – Over/Under 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔹 Ian Happ – Over/Under 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔹 José Berríos – Over/Under 5.5 Hits Allowed
🔹 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Over/Under 0.5 Strikeouts
🔹 Addison Barger – Over/Under 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI
⚾ LA Dodgers @ LA Angels
This matchup isn’t as lopsided as the opposing pitchers’ ERAs suggest, though bullpen performance may decide the game. Emmet Sheehan owns a 3.00 ERA while Jack Mederos has a 4.50 ERA — but that number comes from limited bullpen work before being sent down. Tonight marks his first MLB start after dominating AAA with a 1.73 ERA in his last five outings, including four shutout innings last Friday. Expect a pitch count limit of three to four innings, five if he’s cruising.
Sheehan makes his sixth start since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2024, having won his last two with five innings and five strikeouts apiece. The Angels have the highest strikeout total in the league, which plays to Sheehan’s strengths. Walks remain a concern, but his numbers are better as a starter than in relief.
🔹 Emmet Sheehan – Over/Under 5.5 Strikeouts
🔹 Mookie Betts – Over/Under 0.5 Strikeouts
🔹 Mike Trout – Over/Under 0.5 Walks
🔹 Jo Adell – Over/Under 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
🏆 Pick’em 5 Margin (9:38pm ET/6:38pm PT)
⚾ LA Dodgers @ LA Angels
(See full game breakdown above)
🔸 Shohei Ohtani – Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔸 Will Smith – Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔸 Andy Pages – Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔸 Mike Trout – Hits + Runs + RBIs
🔸 Zach Neto – Hits + Runs + RBIs