The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs meet Sunday in MLB action from Wrigley Field. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Arizona Diamondbacks will send out Brandon Pfaadt for the start here and Pfaadt is 4-6 with a 3.97 ERA and 104 strikeouts this season. In his career, Pfaadt is 1-1 with a 1.46 ERA and 12 strikeouts against the Cubs. Shota Imanaga will start this one for the Cubs and is 8-2 with a 2.97 ERA and 98 strikeouts this season. This will be Imanaga’s first career start against the Diamondbacks.
Arizona Diamondbacks Recap
The Arizona Diamondbacks come into this one looking to complete the sweep of the Cubs after posting a 3-0 win over Chicago in Saturday’s matchup. The win gave the Diamondbacks back-to-back series wins after taking down the Toronto Blue Jays prior to the all-star break.
Diamondbacks Making Up Ground In NL Playoff Race
Ketel Marte leads the Diamondbacks with 107 hits in addition to a .292 batting average and 19 doubles with 19 home runs and 57 RBIs while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also has 13 home runs and 56 RBIs as well this season. Corbin Carroll has a team-high 19 stolen bases while Eugenio Suarez has 110 strikeouts this season. Christian Walker also has 22 home runs with a team-high 68 RBIs of his own in addition to 108 strikeouts this season.
Why the Arizona Diamondbacks will win
- The Diamondbacks have won each of their last five games as road underdogs.
- The Cubs have lost each of their last four games as home favorites against National League opponents.
- The Diamondbacks have covered the run line each of their last six games at Wrigley Field against teams that held a losing record.
- The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games as home favorites against National League opponents.
Chicago Cubs Recap
The Chicago Cubs will be out to salvage something from this series after dropping the first two games of the set thanks to being shut out on Saturday. The loss meant a series unbeaten streak for the Cubs was snapped after earning a four-game series split with the Cardinals before the all-star break.
Cubs Trying To Stay In Hunt In NL Playoff Picture
Cody Bellinger has 84 hits including 15 doubles, 9 home runs and 37 RBIs. Nico Hoerner has 89 hits, 18 doubles and a .258 batting average while Christopher Morel has a team-high 18 home runs and 51 RBIs. Michael Busch has 12 homers with 36 RBIs but has 107 strikeouts as well this season. Ian Happ also has a team-high 23 doubles with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs but also has 106 strikeouts this season. Seiya Suzuki’s also chipped in 13 homers and 45 RBIs this season.
Why the Chicago Cubs will win
- The Cubs have won each of their last seven day games following a loss.
- The Diamondbacks have lost eight of their last nine Sunday road games against NL Central opponents.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last seven day games following a loss.
- The Diamondbacks have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six day games against National League opponents following a win.
Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction
I’m on the Diamondbacks here. You just have two teams headed in different directions as the Cubs are falling apart and while Imanaga’s been one of their better starters, he hasn’t been as consistently sharp as he was to start the year and I don’t trust the Cubs’ lineup behind him. Brandon Pfaadt isn’t one of my guys, but you can’t really argue with results and the fact is that the Diamondbacks have been winning his starts and the Diamondbacks look like a team poised to make a postseason push right out of the gate. I’ll take Arizona here.