After struggling through another rough homestand, the Diamondbacks are excited to be hitting the road. However, a trip to the friendly confines probably won’t do much good for Arizona in the win column.
You can bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Arizona lost for the 13th time in 19 games Tuesday, capping a lackluster month of May with another losing homestand. The D-backs won their first home series on Sunday after taking two of three from San Diego, but then they dropped a pair to the Astros. Arizona is 9-20 at Chase Field this season and has a losing record during all four of its homestands.
One of those homestands took place during the first week of the season when the Cubs were in Phoenix and took three of four from the D-backs. The teams cashed the over in three of those four meetings and the D-backs are on a roll playing above the scoreline. Arizona has paid over bettors in 11 straight games following Tuesday’s 8-5 loss to Houston.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Archie Bradley (2-0, 6.11 ERA) is coming off the best outing of his young career. He gave up three runs but only four hits in 7.1 innings against San Diego, striking out nine after being recalled from Triple-A Reno. Considering Arizona’s struggles on the bump, Bradley made a case to gain a permanent spot in the rotation. He hasn’t enjoyed much success at the big league level, but his could be boost for the former top prospect.
Granted the outing came against the light-hitting Padres so we’ll need to see more out of him. Bradley will get another opportunity in place of the injured Shelby Miller when he takes on the Cubs for the first time in his career.
John Lackey (5-2, 3.16 ERA) finished off his strong month of May by limiting the Phillies to one run and four hits over seven innings for his fifth win of the year. It was his fourth start in which he went at least six innings and gave up one or zero runs.
Lackey went 2-1 with a 2.09 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 43.0 innings in six starts last month, lowering his overall ERA nearly two full runs. He allowed a season-high six runs and eight hits to the D-backs on Apr. 7 in his Cubs debut, but remained unbeaten against them with his third career victory.
LIVE BETTING
While people still search for a crack in the Cubs roster, one obvious area would have been the bullpen. Notice I said “would have.” Because what the Cubs bullpen did on Monday was rather remarkable and sealed the notion that their pen is a strength. Starter Jason Hammel leaving Monday’s game had the making of a disaster for the Cubs, but instead their relievers accomplished something that no team has done in nearly a century.
Hammel was taken out after two innings, and over the next seven frames relievers Travis Wood, Justin Grimm, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon didn’t allow a single Dodgers hitter to reach base. Those seven perfect innings allowed the Cubs to win their sixth consecutive game. Chicago relievers haven’t been called on much, tossing the fewest combined innings in the majors, but they’ve been effective when in the game. Chicago’s 2.89 bullpen ERA is the second-lowest in the National League.
QUICK PICK
Before we start heaping praise on Bradley for his strong effort last time out, keep in mind he was facing the San Diego Padres, a team that has the lowest team batting average in the majors and has been blanked 10 times already this season. He faces a much tougher challenge with the Cubs in Wrigley Field. Chicago’s balanced lineup produces the second-most runs per game in baseball and their team batting average is 35 points higher than San Diego’s. After a solid stint in the minors and a quality start against San Diego, Bradley may become the pitcher the D-backs thought. He’ll have to prove it against the Cubs, and that’s not going to happen.
MLB Odds: Chicago 7, Arizona 3
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem, BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The ballgame between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs will take place Friday, June 3, 2016, at 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
