The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs meet Friday in MLB action from Wrigley Field. Here’s a Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Arizona Diamondbacks Betting Preview
Heading into the All-Star break, the Diamondbacks hosted the Toronto Blue Jays. Arizona was able to win the first two installments of that set 5-4 and 12-1, but couldn’t complete the sweep after an 8-7 loss in the finale.
Ryne Nelson will start for Arizona on Friday. Nelson is 6-6 with a 4.98 ERA and 59 Ks.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
Over on the Cubs’ side, their weekend was spent playing against the rival St. Louis Cardinals. After a 5-1 win in the opener of that set, Chicago took losses in both the Saturday doubleheader games 11-3 and 5-4. The Cubs were able to finish with a tied series however, following an 8-3 win Sunday.
As starter for Friday’s matchup, the Cubs will go with Justin Steele. This year Steele is 2-3 with a 2.71 EA in 14 starts. Over 88 career games (77 starts), Steele is 26-19 with a 3.18 ERA.
Cubs vs Diamondbacks Pick Injury Notes
Diamondbacks SP Blake Watson (elbow) isn’t expected to return from the IL until sometime next month.
Cubs RF Mike Tauchman (groin) began a rehab assignment Monday.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Diamondbacks’ last six road games have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Cubs’ last six day games against National League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last seven games against NL West opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Diamondbacks’ last six road games.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Ian Happ has recorded a Double in five of the Cubs’ last six home games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one total base in each of the Cubs’ last 11 games.
- Dansby Swanson has scored at least one run in 11 of his last 12 appearances with the Cubs as home underdogs.
- Patrick Wisdom has hit a home run in three of his last four home appearances against the Diamondbacks.
- Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last 11 games.
- Seiya Suzuki has recorded at least one RBI in six of the Cubs’ last seven games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one Single in each of the Cubs’ last eight home games against NL opponents.
Arizona Diamondbacks Player Prop Facts
- Alek Thomas has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last seven appearances in day games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
- Christian Walker has recorded at least one Single in each of the Diamondbacks’ last six day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 13 road appearances against NL opponents.
- Geraldo Perdomo has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight appearances.
- Corbin Carroll has recorded at least one Double in each of the Diamondbacks’ last three games as favorites against NL opponents.
- Ketel Marte has hit a home run in three of the Diamondbacks’ last four games against the Cubs.
- Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 road appearances.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Chicago Cubs rank 5th in the league for walks this season (327).
- The Chicago Cubs rank 5th in the league for strikeouts this season (845).
- The Arizona Diamondbacks rank 2nd in the league for runs scored this season (482).
- The Arizona Diamondbacks rank 29th in the league for strikeouts this season (709).
Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction
I’ll probably just stick with the Cubs. Chicago didn’t have the greatest series over the weekend, splitting some pretty high-scoring games against the rival Cardinals. The Cubs have now given up five or more runs in two of the last three games. That said, Chicago has scored three or more runs in eight straight themselves.
The offense is working lately; if the pitching follows suit the Cubs will be set up pretty well Friday. Steele is 2-0 with just one earned in 16.0 innings over his last pair of starts, so he should post a quality outing if all goes well.