MLB: Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks Odds Preview
Both clubs are in a massive battle for wild card spots with just 15 games left
The Chicago Cubs (78-69) open up a critical three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks (76-72) at Chase Field with post-season positioning on the line. The Cubs are firmly hanging on to a wild-card spot by 2.5 games, while Arizona is tied with the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds for the last spot in the postseason. Chicago sends Justin Steele (16-3, 2.49) to the hill against Brandon Pfaadt (1-8, 6.25) for the Snakes. The Cubs are a -142 road favorite, with the total sitting at 8.5. The first pitch is scheduled for 9:40 pm ET / 6:40 pm PT on the Marquee and the MLB Network. We’ll start our Cubs vs Diamondbacks odds preview with a deeper dive into the Cubbies.
Cubs Headed In Wrong Direction
You can forgive losses to the better teams in the league at this point in the season, but when a team like the Cubs drops a series against the Colorado Rockies, it gives bettors an uneasy feeling when backing Chicago in must-win situations.
The Cubs lost the season series against the Washington Nationals (4-3), were swept by the Los Angeles Angels (3-0), and will lose the tiebreaker against the Cincinnati Reds because of the Reds 7-6 head-to-head advantage.
With the wild-card standings and the top spot in the NL Central standings being a neck-in-neck race, you could point to these three results as a reason why Chicago will likely lose the division to the Milwaukee Brewers. Even with a record that says nine games over .500, the Cubbies are barely profitable for bettors with 0.8 units of profit.
Over the last two seasons, no team has displayed more mediocre results than the Northsiders with -0.36 units lost with a 152-157 record. Lefty Justin Steele (16-3, 2.49) will take the mound for Chicago. Steele, one of the MLB pitching leaders in 2023, is a perfect 7-0 in his last 10 starts with a 2.48 era and is one of the NL Cy Young Award frontrunners. We continue our Cubs vs Diamondbacks odds preview with a look at the Snakes.
Diamondbacks Look To Continue Success Against Cubs
The Diamondbacks were buried in the minds of most after losing nine straight games to start the month of August after losing 16 of 24 in July. Combined, Arizona was 20-31 in the last two Summer months (July and August) and 24-33 in the second half of the season.
That’s the thing about adding an additional wild-card team, even a team like the Pittsburgh Pirates (69-78) is just 6.5 games out of a playoff spot even though they haven’t had a winning month since starting the season 20-9. Arizona is tied for the last wild card spot, despite losing three straight games, but is starting a series against the Cubs, whom they’ve beaten in three of four meetings.
Rookie righty Brandon Pfaadt (1-8, 6.25) will get another shot against Chicago after giving up three homers in a no-decision Sunday. Pfaadt managed to squeeze a quality start out of the start, giving up four runs and seven hits over six innings. It’s been three weeks since Pfaadt has produced a win. We conclude our Cubs vs Diamondbacks odds preview with another confident MLB baseball pick.
The D-Backs Need Some Help
When you have a team like Arizona which has lost 0.44 units for bettors this MLB season, against Chicago (+0.80 units), you couldn’t find two teams that are harder to figure out. The number has shot up to -142 after opening -135 because of the advantage the Cubs will have on the mound, but we’re going to go in the opposite direction by taking Arizona.
Because these MLB teams are so even, or maybe the word even was substituted for unreliable, we’re forced to take the +1.5. We recommend waiting until right before the first pitch to make your wager because, with 72% of the early money coming in on Chicago, the moneyline is likely to increase, bringing the juice down on the run-line. That concludes our Cubs vs Diamondbacks preview, we wish you nothing but the best with your wagers this weekend.
For MLB betting news, Cubs vs Diamondbacks odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
Can’t get enough? Here’s more!
- Red Sox vs Blue Jays Preview: Toronto Hits Slump at Worst Time
- Rangers vs Guardians Betting Preview: Texas in Thick of Playoff Race
- Braves vs Marlins Series Preview: Braves Already Clinched NL East!
- Dodgers vs Mariners Preview: LA Closing in on Another Division Title
- Rays vs Orioles Series Preview: Now or Never for TB
