The Chicago Cubs (9-6) travel to face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks (8-8) on Monday, April 15th. This game will be played at Chase Field in Phoenix and televised on MARQ. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. First pitch is set for 9:40 ET.
Cubs vs Diamondbacks
Heading into their last game vs. the Mariners, the Cubs closed out the series with a 3-2 win. Chicago was the +120 underdog on the road. It was a good start for the Cubs, as they got on the board with a run in the 1st inning and added another in the 4th.
Javier Assad got the start for the Cubs, going 5 2/3 innings, and picked up the win. He gave up just two runs on four hits and issued only one walk. The Cubs’ offense was carried by Michael Busch, who went 2/4 with a homer and two RBIs.
As the Cubs are on the road today vs. the Diamondbacks, they are looking to pick up their 10th win of the season. Currently, the Cubs are 9-6 and are on a two-game winning streak. In the NL Central, they are in 4th place but are just 1.5 games behind the Brewers.
So far, the Cubs have been good at home, putting together a record of 5-1. On the road, they are just below .500 at 4-5. Chicago has won two straight road games and is 3-5 as the road underdog this season.
Chicago is a strong bet on the run line this season, going 10-5 overall. They are 6-3 on the run line on the road, and have covered in two straight road games. Their average run margin is +0.9, and they have a +3.7 run margin at home.
The Cubs have gone under the over/under line in three straight games, and the over/under line for today’s game against the Diamondbacks is set at 9 runs. The Cubs’ games have had an average of 10.1 runs scored per game this season, and their over/under record is 8-7. The over/under line has been set at 9 runs for just one of their games this season, and the over has hit in that game.
Ben Brown Gets The Start For The Cubs
Ben Brown will be making his first start of the season for the Cubs, as he has made a pair of relief appearances to start the year. In his last outing, he went 4 2/3 innings and picked up a no-decision vs. the Padres, giving up 3 hits and 1 home run. He also struck out 5. His first appearance was a rough one, as he gave up 6 runs in 1 2/3 innings vs. the Rangers.
Cubs Offense Breakdown
Our player projections for the Cubs’ offense today are favoring Seiya Suzuki to have a big game at the plate. Suzuki has the highest total hits projection on the team and in the league today, as well as the top odds to hit a home run. Cody Bellinger has the 2nd highest total hits projection on the team and 6th in the league, while Christopher Morel is 4th on the team and 15th in the league in terms of total hits projections.
The Diamondbacks’s offense was hot right out of the gates in their most recent game vs. the Cardinals, closing out their series with a 5-0 win. After going on to score five runs in the 2nd inning, the Diamondbacks really didn’t need to do much else, as the Cardinals could only muster four hits and didn’t score a run. Arizona’s Zac Gallen put together a good start, going six innings and not giving up a run. He also issued just two walks and struck out seven Cardinals batters.
Christian Walker was hot at the plate, going 3/4 with a run scored. The Diamondbacks’s Jake McCarthy only had two hits, but he drove in a run and scored another. Corbin Carroll scored the team’s other run, going 1/4.
After taking their series vs the Cardinals, the Diamondbacks are now 8-8 as they get set to take on the Cubs today. Looking at where they stand in the NL West, the Diamondbacks are two games behind the Dodgers, and they are currently in 2nd place.
At home, the Diamondbacks have gone 6-4 this season and 2-4 on the road. Arizona has won two straight games as the favorite and are 7-3 when favored this season. As the underdog, their record is 1-5 so far.
When playing at home, the Diamondbacks have been a profitable team to bet on the run line, going 7-3 so far this season. Their average run margin in winning games is an impressive 5.0, which has helped them cover the run line in their last two games as the favorite. Overall, they are 10-6 on the run line this season.
The Diamondbacks have had 16 games with an over/under line of 9 runs, and the over has hit in 50.0% of those games. Their over/under record for the season is 8-8, and their combined run average is 9.8 runs per game. Their over/under record is 3-2 in games with a line of 9 runs, and they have had 8 games with a line over 9 runs and 3 games with a line under 9 runs. Their current under streak is at 2 games.
Merrill Kelly Gets The Start For The Diamondbacks
Merrill Kelly and the Diamondbacks are back at home today, taking on the Cubs. Kelly has been solid in his first two starts, picking up a win in each outing. He has 12 strikeouts in 13 innings of work and has only given up one home run so far this season.
Diamondbacks Offense Breakdown
Our model is giving Joc Pederson the best chance to hit a home run for the Diamondbacks today, as his home run projection is 10th best in the league. Ketel Marte and Christian Walker also have solid home run projections for Arizona, as they are 13th in the league. If you are looking for a player to have a good day at the plate, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has the highest total hits projection for the Diamondbacks.
Cubs vs Diamondbacks Prediction
Our prediction for today’s Cubs vs. Diamondbacks matchup is to take the Cubs on the money line at +126. We have the Cubs winning this one by a score of 6-4, and with the payout, we really like the value of the Cubs to pick up the win.
Looking at some of the starting pitcher projections, Ben Brown is predicted to finish with five strikeouts, and Merrill Kelly is also projected to finish with five. However, we have Brown finishing with a better ERA and are giving him the edge in today’s matchup.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:April 15, 2024 Cubs, Diamondbacks