The Arizona Diamondbacks will take on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field this afternoon, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:20 PM ET. In a matchup where the Diamondbacks are slight money line favorites at -106, this game is shaping up to be a competitive showdown of pitching prowess and offensive capability.
Pitching Duel:
For the Cubs, Justin Steele will be on the mound. Steele, a left-handed pitcher, has made 14 starts this season. Sporting a 2-3 record and a commendable 2.71 ERA, Steele has proven to be a reliable arm for Chicago. Impressively, he has delivered eight quality starts and most recently pitched seven scoreless innings. His home ERA stands at 3.16, while his road ERA is a slightly better 2.96, indicating his ability to keep batters at bay regardless of the venue.
Opposing him will be Ryne Nelson of the Diamondbacks. Nelson's season has been marked by a 6-6 record and a 4.99 ERA. While these numbers might not jump off the page, his consistency in recent outings is noteworthy. Nelson has gone six consecutive starts without allowing more than three earned runs. Additionally, he has a WHIP of 1.42 and a batting average against of .296, factors that will be key in today's contest.
Team Form and Offense:
The Diamondbacks enter this game with a 49-48 overall record, currently sitting second in the NL West, seven games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have demonstrated solid form on the road, boasting a 4-1 record in their last five away games. Additionally, they average five runs per game, the second-best mark in Major League Baseball. Key contributors include Christian Walker, who has belted 22 homers, and Ketel Marte, who has added 19 homers.
On the other hand, the Cubs hold a 47-51 record and are fifth in the NL Central, 8.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite their position in the standings, the Cubs have shown signs of improvement, going 7-3 in their last ten games and winning four of their last five home games. The Cubs offense averages 4.2 runs per game with an overall batting average of .235. Recent hot streaks include Nico Hoerner, who has hit .378 over his last nine games, and Christopher Morel, who has tallied three home runs in his last eight games.
Betting Insights:
Today's game has an over/under line of 7.5 runs. Both teams are coming off three-game over streaks, making this a potentially high-scoring affair. Arizona games have averaged 9.8 runs this season, with 84.5% of their contests surpassing the 7.5 run line. Meanwhile, 67.3% of Cubs games have also exceeded the 7.5 run threshold. When the over/under line is set at 7.5, the Diamondbacks hold a 6-4 record and the Cubs a 12-10 record, suggesting favorable conditions for bettors leaning towards the over.
Projections for today's game have Steele anticipated to record six strikeouts, while Nelson is projected to have four. Despite the Diamondbacks being slight favorites, Steele’s ability to concede fewer runs might be pivotal in the final outcome. According to predictions, the Diamondbacks are slated to narrowly edge out the Cubs in a 5-4 victory.
Both teams are eager to secure a win in this crucial matchup as they prepare to jostle for better standing in their respective divisions. Fans can expect a riveting game with formidable pitching and key offensive performances under the iconic backdrop of Wrigley Field.