The Chicago Cubs (44-46) open the second half of the season on the road for the first of three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks (26-66) Friday night. First pitch will be at 9:40 p.m. ET at Chase Field. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Cubs vs. Diamondbacks odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Kyle Hendricks is the projected starting pitcher for the Cubs. He is 11-4 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 6.9 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 over 105 IP spanning 18 starts.
Hendricks posted a 2.08 ERA over his last five starts before the All-Star break and has won his last nine decisions. He is tied for the MLB lead with 11 wins but also has allowed the most hits (111) and home runs (20) in the National League.
LHP Madison Bumgarner is the projected starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks. He is 4-5 with a 5.73 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 9.4 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 through 59 2/3 IP over 12 starts.
Bumgarner is making his first start since June 2 and is coming off the injured list. He was 0-3 and the Diamondbacks were 0-4 across his last four starts as he posted a 10.13 ERA over 16 innings.
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Cubs at Diamondbacks odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:55 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Cubs -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Diamondbacks +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Against the spread/ATS: Cubs -1.5 (+105) | Diamondbacks +1.5 (-125)
- Over/Under: 9 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Prediction
Diamondbacks 6, Cubs 5
Money line (ML)
The Cubs struggled to close out the first half of the season, winning only twice in their final 15 games before the break. They are 16-29 on the road this season and are riding a nine-game road losing skid.
The Diamondbacks have the worst record in all of baseball but went 3-3 in their final six games before the break and won their latest home series.
Take the DIAMONDBACKS (+125).
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The Cubs are 49-41 ATS overall this season and 25-20 ATS on the road. They are only 19-24 ATS when favored.
Arizona, meanwhile, is 23-20 ATS at Chase Field this season and 7-8 ATS in their last 15 games.
Take the DIAMONDBACKS +1.5 (-125).
Over/Under (O/U)
Only two ballparks had a higher Over percentage than Chase Field’s 61.9% for the first half of the season.
The Diamondbacks had seven of their final 11 games before the break finish with totals greater than 9 runs.
Four of the last six games for the Cubs had a total of more than 9 runs.
Take OVER 9 (-115).
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