The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs meet Saturday in MLB action from Wrigley Field. Here’s a Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks prediction. This will be the second 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
Last weekend the Diamondbacks played the Toronto Blue Jays. Arizona won the first two installments of that set before a close 8-7 loss on Sunday. On Friday in their opener versus the Cubs, the Diamondbacks powered out a 5-2 win. Starter Ryne Nelson went 5.2 innings with one earned and nine Ks.
In the starter role Saturday Arizona is sending out Zac Gallen. This year Gallen is 6-5 with a 3.87 ERA in 15 starts. Gallen has a career record of 45-36 with a 3.28 ERA in 130 starts.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
Over on the Cubs’ side, they took on the rival St. Louis Cardinals in their last series before the All-Star break. Chicago lost the two Saturday games but otherwise bagged a pair of wins to split the set. On Friday the Cubs were out-hit 12-8 in the defeat. Justin Steele went just 4.2 innings in the start with five earned on nine hits and two walks.
It’ll be Kyle Hendricks in the starting pitcher slot for Chicago on Saturday. This year Hendricks is 2-7 with a 6.78 ERA in 17 games (12 starts). Hendricks is 95-76 with a 3.64 career ERA in 264 games (258 starts).
Cubs vs Diamondbacks Pick Injury Notes
Diamondbacks SP Blake Walston (elbow) isn’t expected to return from the 15-day IL until sometime next month.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Cubs’ last eight games as underdogs against National League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Seven of the Diamondbacks’ last eight games as favorites against the Cubs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last 12 night games against NL West opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Diamondbacks’ last four games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Ian Happ has recorded a Double in four of the Cubs’ last five games as home underdogs against NL opponents.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one Single in each of his last eight home appearances against NL opponents.
- Patrick Wisdom has hit a home run in three of his last four home appearances against the Diamondbacks.
- Dansby Swanson has scored at least one run in 11 of his last 12 appearances with the Cubs as home underdogs.
- Kyle Hendricks has recorded three or more strikeouts in each of his last 14 home appearances against NL West opponents.
- Ian Happ has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Cubs’ last four home games against NL West opponents.
- Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last 12 games.
- Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one total base in each of the Cubs’ last 12 games.
Arizona Diamondbacks Player Prop Facts
- Corbin Carroll has recorded at least one Double in each of the Diamondbacks’ last three games as favorites against NL opponents.
- Ketel Marte has recorded at least one Single in each of his last six appearances in night games against NL teams that held a losing record.
- Corbin Carroll has scored at least one run in each of the Diamondbacks’ last seven night games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Corbin Carroll has hit a home run in three of the Diamondbacks’ last four games as road favorites against NL Central opponents.
- Corbin Carroll has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Diamondbacks’ last four games as road favorites against NL Central opponents.
- Ketel Marte has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 18 appearances in night games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
- Ketel Marte has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 18 appearances in night games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
- Zac Gallen has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his 12 previous Saturday appearances against teams that held a losing record.
- Zac Gallen has recorded a win in each of his last four appearances in night games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction
I’ll take a stab on the Cubs. Hendricks has certainly had his ups and downs this year, but he did well in his last outing. In a win over the Cardinals, Hendricks posted 7.0 clean frames with five hits and a walk. Prior to that however Hendricks had nine earned in 5.2 innings during a pair of losses, so he’s got to get a good start in here.
On Friday the Cubs gave up 12 hits but really only had a couple of bad innings. The offense was pretty sporadic too, despite Nico Hoerner’s three hits and a run. I like Chicago’s bats to cash in a little better Saturday.