Diamondbacks vs Cubs Prediction - MLB Picks 9/7/23

Chicago Cubs (76-64) vs Arizona Diamondbacks (72-68)

Game Info: Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 7:40 pm (Wrigley Field)

Javier Assad (3-1) (2.69) vs Ryne Nelson (6-7) (5.47)

Betting Odds: Chicago Cubs -185 / Arizona Diamondbacks +156 --- Over/Under: 8.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

The Arizona Diamondbacks will leave the desert for the Windy City when they start a four-game set with the Chicago Cubs this Thursday from Wrigley Field on the MLB Network.

Diamondbacks Preview & Projected Starter

Arizona enters at 72-68 after taking two of three from Colorado. The Diamondbacks ran it up on the Rockies in game three, and they’ll now face a stiff test with playoff implications here at Wrigley. The Arizona offense is scoring 4.34 runs per game, while batting .257, with a .326 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.41 ERA, with a 1.34 WHIP.

Ryne Nelson (6-7, 4.97 ERA, 74 Ks) will take the mound for Arizona. The sophomore pitcher didn’t contain St. Louis very well last week, allowing five runs through six innings en route to a DBacks loss. Nelson has been a solid piece to the rotation this season, but he’s still vulnerable to being blown up at times. Nelson’s last eight road starts have gone relatively well, as he’s allowed no more than two runs in seven of them, while posting a 4-0 record. One of those performances happens to include an outing in the Bay against the Giants, where he tossed seven innings of one-run ball, and he’ll attempt to replicate that effort here.

DBacks Player Trends & Props

Christian Walker had multiple hits in the game two loss, and he’s Arizona’s leader in home runs (30) and RBI (90).

Ketel Marte doubled and tripled in his return to the lineup last night, and he’s first on the team in hits (137), with 21 homers and 70 runs batted in.

Corbin Carroll has plated a run in three straight contests, and he’s leading the DBacks in batting (.281), with 24 home runs and 68 RBI.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has totaled multiple bases in five of the last six games, and he’s posting splits of .255/22/71.

Cubs Preview & Projected Starter

Chicago comes in at 76-64 after sweeping San Francisco. The Cubs flexed their muscles against the Giants this week, and they’ll look for more success against the NL West this weekend. got a great outing from Justin Steele on Labor Day, and they’ll look to double down here in game two. The Chicago offense is scoring 4.12 runs per game, while batting .243, with a .323 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.18 ERA, with a 1.28 WHIP.

Javier Assad (3-2, 2.69 ERA, 67 Ks) will get the call for Chicago. The second-year pitcher has taken on an extended role over the past three weeks. Assad pitched well in Detroit last week, holding the Tigers to two runs thru 5.1 innings, and he’ll look for more success on the road here in Pittsburgh.

Cubs Player Trends & Props

Cody Bellinger has produced a run in five of the last seven games, and he’s leading the Cubs in batting (.320), home runs (23) and RBI (84).

Dansby Swanson has doubled in runs in consecutive contests, and he’s posting splits of .244/19/68.

Nico Hoerner has collected a hit in six of the last nine games, and he leads Chicago in hits (148), with RBI (62).

Ian Happ has plated a run in four of the previous six games, and he’s posting a line of .247/17/72.

Jeimer Canderlario homered in the final two matchups with Cincy, and he’s totaled 21 homers and 67 runs batted in between time with Washington and Chicago this season..

Corey’s Free Pick

Look for Chicago to keep making ground in the NL Central and NL Wild Card races this weekend, and there’s a good chance they get things going Thursday. The Cubs rest just one game back after sweeping the Giants, and I believe their bats will find production here against Ryne Nelson. Chicago has won seven of their previous nine games, so let’s trust their momentum here in this series with playoff implications. Back the Cubs for game one.