Arizona Diamondbacks Ketel Marte (4) hits an RBI single against the Chicago Cubs in the fifth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 17, 2024.
- The Arizona Diamondbacks travel to Chicago to face off against the Cubs for the 2nd game in a 3-game series. First pitch is slated for 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX.
- The Diamondbacks took Game 1 by a score of 5-2 thanks in part to a pair of runs by Gabriel Moreno. Arizona has now won 5 of their last 6.
- See the probable pitchers, odds and a prediction for Friday’s game below.
The Arizona Diamondbacks look to win their 5th straight 3-game series Saturday night in Chicago against the Cubs after downing Justin Steele and Co. 5-2 Friday night.
The Cubs are coming down from their high after sweeping the Orioles in Baltimore last week. They’ve since dropped their series against St. Louis and are in danger of dropping a 2nd straight tonight at Wrigley Field.
Keep scrolling for a prediction, the latest odds and a look at the probable pitchers for tonight’s matchup.
Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction
- CHI vs. ARI pick: CHI +1.5 (-145)
The trends don’t help us here. Kyle Hendricks has been all over the place this season, as has Zac Gallen to a lesser extent. The season series is knotted up at 2-all.
Arizona is the better hitting team among the pair. The Diamondbacks are top 5 in both batting average and runs batted in this season while Chicago hovers around the 20s. But it’s hard to take Chicago’s numbers into account due to the fact they’re playing much better ball these last few months than they were back in May.
I take CHI +1.5 simply because the Cubs are at home and playing with their backs against a wall. The run differential in these teams’ season series is just 7 across 4 games, so all have been close affairs. Tonight should be no different, which favors this play.
Diamondbacks vs. Cubs Odds
| Team | Runline | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Diamondbacks | -1.5 (+120) | -140 | O 8 (-115) |
| Chicago Cubs | +1.5 (-145) | +115 | U 8 (-105) |
Odds above via Fanatics Sportsbook. Check out our Fanatics Sportsbook Promo for a look at one of the best welcome offers in the business.
As you can see, the Diamondbacks are slight road favorites tonight at -140 ML and +120 to win by 2 runs or more. Chicago is -145 to keep the game within a run and +115 to win outright.
The Over/Under for this matchup was set at 8 by Fanatics after a 5-2 outing on Friday. Two of the 4 games throughout their season series have been under this total, 1 has matched this total and the other went well over this total, 12-11.
Diamondbacks vs. Cubs Pitching Matchup
Zac Gallen vs. Kyle Hendricks
| 6-5 | Record | 2-7 |
| 3.87 | ERA | 6.78 |
| 76 | K | 50 |
| 1.21 | WHIP | 1.51 |
| 76.2 | IP | 70.1 |
Zac Gallen is having a better season for the Diamondbacks, but you could make the argument that Hendricks is having the better July.
Hendricks has given up 2 earned runs across 9 innings with a 1-1 record while Gallen has given up 13 runs across 13 innings with an 0-1 record. Hendricks was incredible against the Cardinal in his last outing while Gallen had a day to forget against the Toronto, allowing 9 hits and 6 earned runs across 3.2 innings pitched.
Neither pitcher (especially Hendricks) is heavy on strikeouts, as you can see above. Hendricks particularly forces a lot of fly balls.
Arizona batters are hitting .255 against Hendricks across his career, but the Diamondbacks took Hendricks to church in their lone meeting this season. Arizona totaled 5 hits, 7 earned runs and 2 long bombs in 4.1 innings of work.
Gallen has not faced the Cubs yet this season.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Down South and contributor with SBD!
The Arizona Diamondbacks will face off against the Chicago Cubs on July 19 in what promises to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams. Both teams have had their ups and downs this season, but they will be looking to come out on top in this game.
In terms of pitching matchups, the Diamondbacks are expected to send their ace, Zack Greinke, to the mound. Greinke has been solid this season, posting a 10-4 record with a 3.08 ERA. He will be facing off against Cubs’ pitcher Jon Lester, who has also been impressive with a 9-6 record and a 3.74 ERA. Both pitchers have the ability to shut down opposing lineups, so it should be a tight battle on the mound.
When it comes to predictions for this game, it’s always tough to say for sure how things will play out. Both teams have strong lineups that are capable of putting up runs in a hurry. The Diamondbacks have been led by the likes of Ketel Marte and Eduardo Escobar, while the Cubs have relied on the power of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. It could come down to which team’s offense is able to get going early and put pressure on the opposing pitcher.
As for betting odds, the Cubs are currently favored to win this game with odds of -150, while the Diamondbacks are the underdogs with odds of +130. This means that a $150 bet on the Cubs would net you a $100 profit if they win, while a $100 bet on the Diamondbacks would earn you $130 if they come out on top.
Overall, this matchup between the Diamondbacks and Cubs is sure to be a thrilling game for baseball fans. With two talented teams and strong pitching matchups, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will come out on top. Be sure to tune in on July 19 to see how it all plays out.
