Arizona Diamondbacks at Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
A pair of struggling teams get a rematch as the Arizona Diamondbacks travel to repay a visit to the Chicago Cubs for a new series beginning at 7:40 p.m. ET on Thursday. A week ago, the Cubs took two of a three-game set in Phoenix.
The Diamondbacks (18-21) are on a six-game losing streak after losing the last two of the series against the Cubs and then a four-game sweep by the Dodgers.
But they send Zac Gallen to the mound, and he’s 2-0 with a 1.05 ERA this season. Arizona is 4-2 in his starts, with one of the losses coming to the Cubs last week. Gallen got a no-decision after striking out nine and allowing one earned run across six innings.
Marcus Stroman had a couple of bad starts early in the season, giving up 12 earned runs across back-to-back starts. But over the last two, he’s locked in, allowing two earned runs in 13 innings.
That includes seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball against Milwaukee last time out. It was the first start the Cubs (15-21) won this season.
This game is basically a pick ‘em with -110 odds for either team on the moneyline. The run line favors Arizona -1.5 (+145), with the Cubs at +1.5 (-175). The total is set at 8.5.
Arizona Diamondbacks Betting Preview: Give run support
Gallen has been lights out this season, and he likely will be again on Thursday in a cooler late May day in Chicago. It’s supposed to get up to 85 but should cool off to the low 70s by night.
But the Diamondbacks are 24th in runs per game at 3.67 per contest. They are the second-worst team in average at .207 and are 23rd at OPS at .647.
Their offense has hit for decent power, averaging 1.08 homers per game, the ninth-best rate. But they strike out a lot, too, at 9.47 times per game, the third-worst rate. Four players have at least five home runs per game, including a team-high nine by Christian Walker and rising star Daulton Varsho with six.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview: Keep attacking
The Cubs have three straight series wins against the Padres, Diamondbacks, and Brewers. They are scoring five runs per game over that stretch, up from their season average of 4.26, which ranks 17th in the league. They also are prone to striking out a lot 9.37 times per contest, which is 25th.
Willson Contreras is hitting .268 with a team-high five home runs. Seiya Suzuki had a strong start to the season but is down to .257 with a team-best ten doubles and four home runs. Ian Happ is hitting a team-best .282 with eight extra-base hits.
The staff has been solid at limiting runs, allowing 4.14 per game for a league-average 15th. But the average, OPS and home run numbers of their opponents are either 24th or 25th, so there could be some regression if they stop stranding runners.
Diamondbacks/Cubs Betting Prediction
A pick’em with the Diamondbacks favored is interesting for betting. Public betting information is not available as of this writing, but betting on Gallen seems like the move. But then it is relying on the offense, which has received a nice spark from top prospect Alek Thomas who will be playing close to home.
We’ll take the visitors on the moneyline despite Stroman heating up for the Cubs. But Gallen has been lights out. Though if betting the run line, we’ll go Cubs +1.5 (-175) and take the under 8.5.
