Chicago Cubs (76-65) vs Arizona Diamondbacks (73-68)
Game Info: Friday, September 8, 2023 at 2:20 pm (Wrigley Field)
Jameson Taillon (7-9) (5.73) vs Zac Gallen (14-7) (3.48)
Betting Odds: Chicago Cubs -110 / Arizona Diamondbacks -110 --- Over/Under: 8.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Arizona Diamondbacks will play the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of their series on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Arizona won the first game in this series by a score of 6-2 on Thursday night, but both teams are currently occupying NL Wild Card spots.
Diamondbacks Preview
The Arizona Diamondbacks are 73-68 this season and they have won three of their last four games. Prior to winning the first game in this series, Arizona won two out of three games at home against the Rockies. The Diamondbacks have had a roller coaster of a season, but they are currently barely holding off the Marlins and Reds for the last NL Wild Card spot. The Arizona pitching staff has a 4.61 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP, and a .253 opponent batting average this year. The Diamondbacks offense has scored 663 runs with a .253 batting average and a .324 on base percentage. Christian Walker is batting .273 with 30 home runs and 91 RBI’s for the Diamondbacks. The projected starting pitcher for Arizona is Zac Gallen, who is 14-7 with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 178.2 innings pitched this season.
Cubs Preview
The Chicago Cubs are 76-65 this year and they have won four of their last five games. Chicago came into this series after sweeping the Giants in three games at home. The Cubs have scored 5+ runs in four of their last five games. The Chicago pitching staff has a 4.06 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a .244 opponent batting average. The Cubs offense has scored 718 runs with a .254 batting average and a .329 on base percentage this season. Cody Bellinger is batting .320 with 24 home runs and 86 RBI’s for the Cubs. The projected starting pitcher for Chicago is Jameson Taillon, who is 7-9 with a 5.73 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP over 127.1 innings pitched this year.
Chicago Cubs Team Facts
- The Cubs have won each of their last eight day games following a loss.
- The road team has covered the run line in each of the last eight games between the Diamondbacks and Cubs.
- The 'Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Cubs' last three home games.
- The Cubs have led after 7 innings in each of their last five home day games.
- The Cubs have led after 5 innings in each of their last five day games at Wrigley Field against National League opponents.
Arizona Diamondbacks Team Facts
- The underdogs have won four of the Diamondbacks' last five games at Wrigley Field.
- The Diamondbacks have covered the run line in each of their last five games at Wrigley Field.
- The Diamondbacks have led after 5 innings in each of their last four games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- The 'Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Diamondbacks' last three games against National League opponents.
- The Diamondbacks have led after 3 innings in each of their last three games against NL Central opponents.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Cody Bellinger has hit a home run in three of the Cubs' last four day games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Cubs' last eight games as underdogs.
- Seiya Suzuki has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Cubs' last five home games against NL West opponents.
- Jameson Taillon has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last three appearances against NL opponents.
- Nico Hoerner has scored a run in each of the Cubs' last six games as underdogs.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances with the Cubs as home underdogs against NL opponents.
- Nico Hoerner ranks T6th in the league in Steals (36) this season.
Arizona Diamondbacks Player Prop Facts
- Christian Walker has hit at least one home run in each of the Diamondbacks' last three games as road favorites against NL opponents.
- Ketel Marte has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Diamondbacks' last four games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Christian Walker has recorded four or more total bases in each of the Diamondbacks' last four games as road favorites.
- Corbin Carroll has scored at least one run in each of the Diamondbacks' last six games against NL Central opponents.
- Zac Gallen has recorded five or more strikeouts in six of his last seven appearances with the Diamondbacks as favorites against NL opponents.
- Christian Walker has recorded at least one hit in each of the Diamondbacks' last 10 games as road favorites against NL opponents.
- Zac Gallen ranks T4th in the league for Wins (14) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Chicago Cubs ranks 6th in the league for RBI's this season (691).
- The Chicago Cubs ranks 7th in the league for steals this season (118).
- The Arizona Diamondbacks ranks 4th in the league for strikeouts against this season (1093).
- The Arizona Diamondbacks ranks 22nd in the league for ERA this season (4.61).
Pick
The Diamondbacks were able to get a very big win in Game 1 of this series on Thursday and they are currently in the last Wild Card spot in the NL. Chicago is in the second Wild Card spot, but they are only two games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. The Cubs are starting Jameson Taillon, who has allowed 4+ runs in three straight starts. The Diamondbacks are starting Zac Gallen, who has allowed 11 earned runs in his last two starts (10.2 IP). Neither starting pitcher has been very good in recent starts, but I am going to side with the home team in this matchup. Chicago is 40-32 at home and I like them here.
David’s Pick Cubs ML
AUTHOR: David Racey
Mitch's Take...
