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The Arizona Diamondbacks (73-68) and Chicago Cubs (76-65) meet Friday as they continue a 4-game series. First pitch at Wrigley Field is slated for 2:20 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Diamondbacks vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Arizona leads 1-0
Arizona hit 3 home runs en route to a 6-2 triumph in Thursday’s series lid-lifter. The win snapped a 3-game road losing streak for the Diamondbacks. Arizona is 3-1 over its last 4 games and holds the final NL Wild Card.
Chicago had a 4-game win streak snapped in Thursday’s loss. A club that had banged out 50 hits during the win streak collected just 5 while facing 6 different Arizona hurlers.
Diamondbacks at Cubs projected starters
RHP Zac Gallen vs. RHP Jameson Taillon
Gallen (14-7, 3.48 ERA) makes his 30th start of the season. He has a 1.11 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 9.4 K/9 through 178 2/3 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 5 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 4 K in 8-5 home loss vs. Baltimore Orioles Sunday
- 2023 road stats: 3-5, 4-81 ERA in 88 2/3 IP in 15 starts
- Career starts vs. Cubs: 1-1, 4.35 ERA in 20 2/3 IP across 4 starts
- Has allowed 11 ER over his last 10 2/3 IP
Taillon (7-9, 5.51 ERA) is tabbed for his 26th start of the season. He has a 1.34 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 8.0 K/9 through 127 1/3 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 5 2/3 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 7 K in 15-7 win at Cincinnati Reds Sunday
- 2023 home stats: 3-6, 5.86 ERA in 66 IP in 13 starts
- Career starts vs. Diamondbacks: 1-1, 5.25 ERA in 12 IP across 2 starts
- Has allowed 4-plus runs in 5 straight starts, and 4 or more earned runs in 3 those outings
- Season ERA is a would-be career-high
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Diamondbacks at Cubs odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:45 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Diamondbacks -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Cubs -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Diamondbacks -1.5 (+155) | Cubs +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Diamondbacks at Cubs picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 4, Diamondbacks 3
Moneyline
The Chicago Cubs have hit the Moneyline in 18 of their last 25 games at home (+8.80 Units, 25% ROI).
Arizona is just 9-19 on the road in the 2nd half. Chicago has been bashing right-handed pitching of late (.825 OPS in 2nd half), and Taillon’s home numbers are sullied by a .365 batting average on balls in play. He’s a fly-baller helped by a breeze favoring pitchers in the forecast.
Leveraging FanDuel Sportsbook for the best odds here, BET THE CUBS (+102).
Run line/Against the spread
The Cubs’ end of this action is drowning in juice. PASS.
Over/Under
There is some Under shading to the prognostication for this one, but the public is all over it. Keep an eye on FanDuel’s O/U if a 7.5 stays listed and gets to -115, that mix would have some minimal value. Otherwise, PASS.
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