Ricky Dimon
The MLB week will wrap up with Sunday Night Baseball between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. I’m on a heater to begin the 2025 campaign, with a 12-7-1 best bets record and – more importatly — a perfect 3-for-3 effort on Same Game Parlays. I have cashed at +481, +632 and +439 odds, the first 2 of which involved games featuring none other than the Cubs and Dodgers (last month in the Tokyo Series).
With tonight’s contest set for 7:10 pm ET on ESPN, it’s time to break down my SGP. Also don’t forget to check out all of our MLB picks for Sunday’s slate.
Dodgers -1.5 (-125)
Over 9 (+100)
Will Smith to record an RBI (+160)
Parlay odds: +480
Part of the value in a Same Game Parlay, of course, is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. That is the entire plan here, as Los Angeles catcher Will Smith driving in a run would obviously work well with the Dodgers covering the run line and the over. Let’s break down each of the SGP legs.
Dodgers -1.5 (-125)
The Dodgers lost 16-0 on Saturday. No, that is not a misprint; that is a real score. It’s never a surprise to see teams – especially good ones – bounce back in a big way from getting blown out, and that is exactly what I expect L.A. to do on Sunday night. Tyler Glasnow is taking the mound at Chavez Ravine, while the Cubs are countering with a bullpen day that will be started with Colin Rea toeing the rubber. That certainly gives Los Angeles a pitching advantage, especially since Chicago is tied for the eighth-worst bullpen ERA in Major League Baseball at 4.53. It’s hard to see an assortment of relievers containing this extremely dangerous Dodgers lineup. Despite yesterday’s stinkbomb, the defending World Series champions are still a solid 11-5 and 8 of their 11 victories have come by multiple runs.
Over 9 (+100)
As mentioned above, I full anticipate Los Angeles bringing out the bats for this one after getting blanked on Saturday. Chicago should be able to at least contribute a little bit toward a high-scoring affair on Sunday night. After all, Glasnow is not off to an impressive start this year. The right-hander faced Philadelphia last weekend and got abused to the tune of 5 earned runs allowed in just 2.0 innings of work. He also walked 5 guys while striking out only 2. The Cubs have scored at least 7 runs in a whopping 8 of their last 11 outings, so their lineup is absolutely on fire right now. This has all the makings of a slugging contest.
Will Smith to record an RBI (+160)
Smith may not get more than 1 at-bat with Rea on the hill, but 1 could be enough to do some serious damage. The Dodgers’ catcher is 3-for-5 lifetime against Rea with a home run and a double. Smith should have plenty of other opportunities for success against the rest of Chicago’s relievers, too. It only helps that he is batting behind Freddie Freeman and Tommy Edman in the lineup, so Smith figures to have teammates on base when he steps into the box. Well into plus money, he has good value to record an RBI.
