The Chicago Cubs have lost two straight and six of their last eight while the St. Louis Cardinals have surged up the NL Central standings. The Cubbies will seek to pad the division lead with a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, where sportsbooks opened them as +107 road underdogs with a total of 10.
John Lackey and Taijuan Walker are expected to get the start for the Cubs and D-backs. Lackey (9-9, 4.81 ERA) has performed extremely well since the all-star break, going 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts. The 38-year-old owns a 4-0 record with a 2.76 ERA in five career starts against Arizona.
Walker (6-5, 3.60) has seen his winless streak reach seven games after he allowed three runs over six innings in a no-decision vs San Francisco in his last outing. The hurler owns a 4.14 ERA in eight starts at home this season – more than a full run higher than his 3.11 mark on the road.
The OVER is trending when these teams get together. In the last five matchups between the Cubs and Diamondbacks, the OVER is 4-1.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The visiting Chicago Cubs were -105 moneyline favorites in this one earlier in the day at most online sportsbooks including Sportsbook. The total was 9.5 at Sportsbook for those preferring OVER/UNDER betting.
OddsShark prediction models pick the Diamondbacks to win this game 4.1-3.9. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming MLB matchups here.
Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
64-50 Arizona battles the Cubs, currently with a 59-54 mark. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Arizona vs Chicago injuries news.
It's a MLB baseball betting matchup between the No. 6-rated Arizona Diamondbacks and the league No. 8-ranked Chicago Cubs, according to the latest MLB power poll here at OddsShark.
Statistical Matchup
Scoring stats point to some edges in this matchup. The game features the Arizona Diamondbacks No. 6-ranked scoring average of 4.98 runs per game, against a Chicago Cubs offense rated No. 13 and scoring 4.69 runs per game. The Diamondbacks have averaged 8.78 hits per game to date this season, more than the Cubs hitters have managed (8.35 per nine innings).
Defensively, Chicago features the No. 3-rated defense on the road, allowing 4.03 runs per game. Arizona, meanwhile, comes in at No. 2 at home, scoring 5.72 runs per game.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Cubs were saddled with a loss last time out in Kyle Hendricks' start, as they lost 3-1 against San Francisco on Wednesday at AT&T Park.
Arizona looks to awaken its bats in this one, after the D-backs were struck out 10 times by Yu Darvish in their last outing, an 8-6 setback against Los Angeles at Chase Field.
Next Betting Matchups
Chicago at Arizona, Saturday, August 12