Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs odds, picks and predictions

The Arizona Diamondbacks (73-68) and Chicago Cubs (76-65) meet Friday as they continue a 4-game series. First pitch at Wrigley Field is slated for 2:20 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Diamondbacks vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Arizona leads 1-0

Arizona hit 3 home runs en route to a 6-2 triumph in Thursday’s series lid-lifter. The win snapped a 3-game road losing streak for the Diamondbacks. Arizona is 3-1 over its last 4 games and holds the final NL Wild Card.

Chicago had a 4-game win streak snapped in Thursday’s loss. A club that had banged out 50 hits during the win streak collected just 5 while facing 6 different Arizona hurlers.

Diamondbacks at Cubs projected starters

RHP Zac Gallen vs. RHP Jameson Taillon

Gallen (14-7, 3.48 ERA) makes his 30th start of the season. He has a 1.11 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 9.4 K/9 through 178 2/3 IP.

• Last start: Loss, 5 1/3 IP, 5  ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 4 K in 8-5 home loss vs. Baltimore Orioles Sunday
• 2023 road stats: 3-5, 4-81 ERA in 88 2/3 IP in 15 starts
• Career starts vs. Cubs: 1-1, 4.35 ERA in 20 2/3 IP across 4 starts
• Has allowed 11 ER over his last 10 2/3 IP

Taillon (7-9, 5.51 ERA) is tabbed for his 26th start of the season. He has a 1.34 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 8.0 K/9 through 127 1/3 IP.

• Last start: No-decision, 5 2/3 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 7 K in 15-7 win at Cincinnati Reds Sunday
• 2023 home stats: 3-6, 5.86 ERA in 66 IP in 13 starts
• Career starts vs. Diamondbacks: 1-1, 5.25 ERA in 12 IP across 2 starts
• Has allowed 4-plus runs in 5 straight starts, and 4 or more earned runs in 3 those outings
• Season ERA is a would-be career-high

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Diamondbacks at Cubs odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:45 a.m. ET.

Diamondbacks at Cubs picks and predictions

Prediction

Cubs 4, Diamondbacks 3

The Chicago Cubs have hit the Moneyline in 18 of their last 25 games at home (+8.80 Units, 25% ROI).

Arizona is just 9-19 on the road in the 2nd half. Chicago has been bashing right-handed pitching of late (.825 OPS in 2nd half), and Taillon’s home numbers are sullied by a .365 batting average on balls in play. He’s a fly-baller helped by a breeze favoring pitchers in the forecast.

Leveraging FanDuel Sportsbook for the best odds here, BET THE CUBS (+102).

The Cubs’ end of this action is drowning in juice. PASS.

There is some Under shading to the prognostication for this one, but the public is all over it. Keep an eye on FanDuel’s O/U if a 7.5 stays listed and gets to -115, that mix would have some minimal value. Otherwise, PASS.