Teams looking to build on a strong finish to the first half meet in a key three-game series starting on Friday when the Arizona Diamondbacks face the Chicago Cubs. Chicago entered the All-Star break by winning eight of their last 11, while Arizona won eight of 12. The Diamondbacks (49-48), who are 9-6 against the National League Central Division in 2024, are 23-24 on the road this season. The Cubs (47-51), who are 12-10 against the NL West, are 25-21 on their home field.
First pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET. After opening as the slight underdog, Chicago now is the -149 favorite on the money line (risk $149 to win $100) in the latest Diamondbacks vs. Cubs odds from SportsLine consensus, while the total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 7.5. Before making any Diamondbacks vs. Cubs picks, be sure to see the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It entered the All-Star break of the 2024 MLB season a profitable 52-42 on all-top rated MLB picks this season. Dating back to last season, it is on a 24-10 roll on top-rated run-line picks (+977). Anybody following has seen strong returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Diamondbacks vs. Cubs and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are severalMLB oddsand betting lines for Cubs vs. Diamondbacks:
- Diamondbacks vs. Cubs money line: Cubs -149, Diamondbacks +126
- Diamondbacks vs. Cubs over/under: 7.5 runs
- Diamondbacks vs. Cubs run line: Cubs -1.5 (+146)
- ARI: The Diamondbacks have hit the game total over in 26 of their last 37 games (+15 units)
- CHC: The Cubs have hit the money line in eight of their last 11 games (+6.65 units)
- Diamondbacks vs. Cubs picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Diamondbacks
RHP Ryne Nelson (6-6. 4.98 ERA) is expected to start for Arizona, and he'll be backed by one of the league's top-hitting teams. First baseman Christian Walker finished the first half of the season strong, with hits in six of the past 10 games, including three in a row. In Saturday's 12-1 win over Toronto, Walker was 2-for-4 with a walk. He was 2-for-5 with two RBI in a 7-5 win at San Diego on July 6. In 29 career games against the Cubs, he has five doubles and a pair of home runs with seven RBI, 16 walks and one stolen base.
Although center fielder Corbin Carroll has struggled for much of the year, the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year has raised his batting average 20 points since the beginning of June. In Saturday's big win over the Blue Jays, Carroll was 2-for-4 with two homers, six RBI and three runs scored. He has hits in eight of the past 11 games. In 10 career games against the Cubs, he is batting .317 with five walks, three RBI and nine stolen bases.See which team to pick here.
Why you should back the Cubs
Left-hander Justin Steele (2-3, 2.71 ERA) is expected to start for Chicago. In 14 starts this season, he has logged 86.1 innings of work, allowing 64 hits, 26 earned runs, 18 walks, while striking out 81. He has registered wins in each of his last two starts, including an 8-0 victory at Baltimore on July 18. In that game, he pitched seven innings, allowing three hits, while striking out four.
Helping lead the offense is first baseman Michael Busch. In a 5-4 loss in Game 2 of a doubleheader at St. Louis on Saturday, he was 3-for-5 with a double. He was on a roll in the three-game sweep at Baltimore last week, going 8-for-15 (.533) with three doubles, one homer and four RBI. In 91 games this season, Busch is batting .271 with 19 doubles, one triple, 12 homers, 36 RBI and 46 runs scored. See which team to pick here.
How to make Diamondbacks vs. Cubs picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 10 combined runs. It alsosays one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the MLB model's picks and analysis at SportsLine.
So who wins Diamondbacks vs. Cubs, and which side has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that's on a 24-10 roll on top-rated MLB picks, and find out.
