Dexter Fowler is happy to be back in a Cubs’ uniform. He returned on a pillow contract and has gone 5-for-9 in the team’s first two games. The Cubs looked to him to set the tone atop the order last year with the mantra “you go, we go.” He’s certainly going now and so are the Cubs. Can that continue down in the dessert?
You can bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
ODDS ANALYSIS
These teams close out the four game set on Sunday. Prior to the series, the Cubbies were slated as -120 favorites on the moneyline to take the series.
Chicago delivered in its first two games of the year, but the Diamondbacks—dealing with inflated expectations of their own—have had a rough start to the year, dropping two of three along with losing their star centerfielder for a bulk of the season.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Jake Arrieta is slated for his second start of the season as the Cubs’ rotation turns over on Sunday.
Arrieta picked up right where he left off on Opening Day in spite of a bluster issue that surfaced near the end of spring training. In seven innings against the Angels, Arrieta allowed only two hits and a walk while striking out six. That, of course, is on the heels of a second half to last season that was legendary thanks to a 0.75 ERA and 0.727 WHIP through 107 1/3 innings.
Sunday is the seventh game of the year for the Diamondbacks so they should be on Shelby Miller’s turn in the rotation.
While Arizona paid a big dollar price to bring Zack Greinke in, they paid a nearly equally large price—though in terms of prospects—to bring Miller to the desert.
The 25-year old’s first start for the Diamondbacks didn’t go as planned. The Rockies handled him well, scoring six runs over six innings and belting three home runs.
Colorado’s offense is potent, but the Cubs’ are just as powerful if not more with Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant anchored by professional hitters like Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist.
Can Miller have a bounce back game against an equally powerful lineup? Maybe. He’s got a nice track record with a 3.28 ERA in a little over three big league seasons. He had a career best 3.02 ERA last year in over 200 innings though he did lead the league in losses with 17.
In seven career appearances against the Cubs, Miller is 1-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.143 WHIP though this isn’t the same Cubs lineup.
LIVE BETTING
The Diamondbacks have scored 19 runs in their first three games and are building off a strong offensive performance last year where they were second in the National League in runs scored.
Arizona has compensated well in the early going for the loss of A.J. Pollock. Without him, the team’s outfield picture remains a question in center. In the corners, David Peralta is an underrated hitter and Yasmany Tomas is off to a hot start.
Another hot hitter early is Jean Segura. The middle infielder had a very nice year in 2013, but struggled the last two dealing with injuries and personal matters. Is he back? He already has six hits in 14 at bats.
For the Cubs, they were merely an average offensive team last year, but we saw the lineup click in the second half. Dexter Fowler stepped up atop the order and the youngsters came together to outscore the entire league outside of the Mets.
Now, you add Zobrist and Heyward to that and things get real scary, real fast.
QUICK PICK
It’s the depth for this Cubs team that makes them truly elite. Not many teams can have a player like Jorge Soler coming off the bench late in games. There’s thump up and down the order with quality, veteran hitters sprinkled in for consistency.
As impressive as the offense is, it’s hard to pick against the current Cy Young winner, particularly off a solid start like he had last time around. Arizona’s bats are off to a nice start, but it’s different hitting off someone like Arrieta than Colorado’s lackluster staff.
MLB Odds: Cubs 6, Diamondbacks 3
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform.
Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Chicago Cubs versus the Arizona Diamondbacks will commence Sunday, April 10, 2016, at 4:10 p.m. ET at Chase Field. The game will be televised live on WGN.
