Cubs Edge Dodgers 7-6 as Imanaga Delivers and DarkHorse Cashes

The Cubs scratched out a 7-6 win over the Dodgers at Wrigley, and DarkHorse AI's Cubs ML (-118) pick hit exactly as scripted. This wasn't pretty, but it was profitable.

Shota Imanaga did his part, justifying that 3.02 ERA advantage we hammered in the writeup. He kept LA's bats quiet enough through six innings while the Cubs offense manufactured seven runs against the overmatched Eric Lauer and LA's bullpen. Lauer's 6.69 ERA wasn't just a red flag—it was a flashing neon sign that screamed "fade me," and Chicago obliged by tagging him early.

The Dodgers, mired in that 0-5 skid and averaging a pathetic 3.2 runs per game coming in, finally showed some pulse with six runs. Too little, too late. Their late rally made it interesting but couldn't erase the hole they dug. The Cubs' 2-0 season series dominance became 3-0, and that 7.5-3.0 run differential we cited? Still holding strong.

This game was never about style points. It was about exploiting a broken Dodgers offense and an ERA gap you could drive a truck through. Imanaga delivered, Lauer imploded, and the Cubs took care of business. Sometimes the math just works. Hit, cashed, moving on.