The Arizona Diamondbacks (18-21) open a 4-game road series against the Chicago Cubs (15-21) Thursday. First pitch is 7:40 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Diamondbacks vs. Cubs odds with MLB picks and predictions.
The Cubs lead the season series 2-1.
The Diamondbacks have lost 6 games in a row. Their last win was at home over the Cubs in the season-series opener Friday.
The Cubs lost 3-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday. That snapped a 4-game win streak that started against the Diamondbacks last weekend.
Diamondbacks at Cubs projected starters
RHP Zac Gallen vs. RHP Marcus Stroman
Gallen (2-0, 1.05 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 0.67 WHIP, 1.3 BB/9 and 9.2 K/9 through 34 1/3 IP.
- Has pitched 6 innings or more in his last 4 starts.
- Had a no-decision in a 4-2 loss against the Cubs Saturday in his last start where he allowed 1 run on 2 hits with 9 strikeouts over 6 innings.
- Has not allowed more than 2 earned runs in any start and has not given up any runs in 3 of them.
Stroman (1-3, 5.13 ERA) makes his 6th start. He has a 1.18 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 7.5 K/9 through 26 1/3 IP.
- Picked up his first win of the year in his last start with 7 scoreless innings, 2 hits,1 walk and 5 strikeouts at the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday.
- The Cubs are 1-4 through his first 5 outings.
Diamondbacks at Cubs odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:05 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Diamondbacks -112 (bet $112 to win $100) | Cubs -108 (bet $108 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Diamondbacks -1.5 (+145) | Cubs +1.5 (-180)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Diamondbacks at Cubs picks and predictions
Prediction
Diamondbacks 3, Cubs 2
Money line
Only 2 teams have fewer home wins this season than the Cubs’ 6 and that is even after winning 2 of 3 games against the Pirates.
Stroman’s allowed 8 runs (7 earned) in 4 1/3 innings April 20 against the Tampa Bay Rays in his last home start, while Gallen has a 1.74 ERA in his first 2 road starts of the season.
The Diamondbacks are starting to look again like the team most expected them to be, but with Gallen on the mound, I like them.
Take the DIAMONDBACKS (-112).
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Run line/Against the spread
This is only the 8th time all season the Diamondbacks have been favored on the run line. They are 2-5 ATS in those games thus far this season.
The Cubs are 20-16 ATS overall this season and 17-10 ATS as the underdog.
The Diamondbacks have eight 1-run wins in their 18 victories and 2 of their 4 wins when Gallen pitches are 1-run victories, which makes it hard to trust them to cover. I like the price for the Diamondbacks but don’t trust them to win by margin.
However, it is almost not worth a wager on the Cubs +1.5 (-180) because of the hefty tag. PASS, unless you are going to include a Cubs +1.5 (-180) wager in a parlay bet.
Over/Under
Only 2 of Gallen’s 6 starts have had more than 8 runs.
In the most recent series between the Cubs and Dbacks, no game had more than 7 runs.
Stroman’s last 2 starts have had fewer than 9 runs.
Take UNDER 8.5 (-110).
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