Already leading the series 1-0, the Diamondbacks (77-72, 39-35 home) are sending Zach Davies to the mound to take on the Cubs (78-70, 37-36 away) and Kyle Hendricks. See who I like to come out on top in this National League matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

CHICAGO CUBS VS ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Chicago Cubs -123

This game will be played at Chase Field at 8:10 ET on Saturday, September 16th.

WHY BET THE CHICAGO CUBS:

  • The Cubs will be taking on a Diamondbacks club that is just 2-3 over their last five games.
  • Coming into the game, the Diamondbacks have gone just 1-4 in their last five home games.
  • Zach Davies has struggled of late, coming in with an ERA of 1.88 over his last two starts.

CAN THE CHICAGO CUBS PULL OUT A WIN AS ROAD FAVORITES?

Entering with a record of 78-70, the Cubs are in 2nd place in the NL Central and are losers of three straight games. So far, they have a road win percentage of 50.7% compared to 54.7% at home. Chicago’s overall series record stands at 25-16-6.

Kyle Hendricks takes the mound for the Cubs with a 6-7 record. He has made 21 appearances this season, posting an ERA of 3.71 and a K/9 of 6.16. His FIP is 3.90 and opponents have a .275 OBP against him.

Kyle Hendricks earned the victory in his most recent start, surrendering two earned runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 frames against the Diamondbacks. The Cubs emerged victorious with a 5-2 scoreline.

Having gone deep 8 times in their last five games, the Cubs are 4th in that span. At 5 runs per game, Chicago is 7th in the league. This figure has come on a team batting average of .254 while hitting a total of 178 home runs (13th).

Cody Bellinger is the home-run leader for the Cubs in 2023, having blasted 25 long balls and driving in 90 runs. His slugging percentage is an impressive .542, a testament to his offensive prowess.

WILL THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

The Diamondbacks enter today’s game with an overall record of 77-72, including putting together an above .500 mark at home (39-35). This year, Arizona has played in 49 series and have gone 26-19-4. Currently, they are 2nd in the NL West.

Zach Davies has made 16 appearances this season, with a .449 slugging percentage allowed and a 1.61 WHIP. His record is 2-5 with an ERA of 6.81, and he has tallied 64 strikeouts, averaging 7.65 per nine innings. On the road, Davies is 1-1 with an ERA of 9.37; at home his record stands at 1-4 with an ERA of 7.45.

Zach Davies’ most recent start against the Mets saw him surrender three runs on four hits over four innings. Despite not earning a win or loss, the Diamondbacks emerged victorious with a 4-3 final score.

The Diamondbacks’ offense comes into today’s game with a collective batting average of .251 and are averaging 4.6 runs per game for the season. Looking at their ten most recent games, Arizona has gone deep eight times, which is ranked 11th in that time. To date, the team’s OPS is .735 to go along with an on base percentage of .322.

The Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll has been one of the team’s most productive hitters this season. He currently boasts a .279 batting average and has driven in 69 runs, while also launching 24 home runs.