Chicago Cubs vs
Arizona DiamondbacksPredictions & Preview

Diamondbacks Favored to Win as Cubs and Diamondbacks Face Off in Exciting Weekend Matchup

The article provides a preview of the matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks during the opening weekend of the season. The Cubs secured a 10-6 victory in the first game of the series and the outcome of the second game remains uncertain. Shota Imanaga will be pitching for the Cubs, while Brandon Pfaadt will be on the mound for the Diamondbacks. Arizona is favored to win, opening at -119 with the current line at Arizona -120. Stay tuned for the conclusion of the series.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cubs +107 | Diamondbacks -120
• Spread: Cubs +1.5 (-190) | Diamondbacks -1.5 (+165)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Arizona will win straight-up is 55%.

Chicago vs Arizona Stats

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs bounced back from a pair of losses in Tokyo to open the season with a win over Arizona Thursday night. The Cubs improved to 1-2 on the season and are looking to get back in the win column. In their win over Arizona, Chicago racked up 12 hits with standout performances from Ian Happ, Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, and Miguel Amaya. Happ homered for the first time, and the Cubs went five for 12 with runners in scoring position. Justin Steele earned the win on the mound with a solid performance. Shota Imanaga will make his second start of the season for Chicago in the upcoming game. Chicago is currently ranked 12th in offense, 21st in defense, and holds a 1-3 record this season with a power ranking of 11.

Arizona Diamondbacks Analysis

The Arizona Diamondbacks had a tough start to their season, being roughed up by the Cubs on Thursday night. Despite the loss, players like Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno had strong performances at the plate. Eugenio Suarez also hit his first homer of the season in the game. Zac Gallen took the loss on the mound, but Brandon Pfaadt will be starting in the upcoming game. Pfaadt had a solid spring training and has had success against the Cubs in the past. The Diamondbacks currently have a power ranking of 7 and are ranked 6th in offense, scoring an average of 6.00 runs per game. Their defense ranks 27th, giving up an average of 10.00 points per game. Overall, the Diamondbacks are 1-1 on the season, while the Cubs went 1-2 in their last three matchups against Arizona.

Exciting Matchup Ahead as Imanaga and Pfaadt Take the Mound for Diamondbacks vs Cubs

During the opening game, we observed an impressive display of batting skills by the players, which was likely facilitated by the pleasant weather conditions and favorable breeze. In the upcoming match, we have two highly capable starting pitchers. While Imanaga faced some control challenges during his last season's debut, it is important to consider that this might have been influenced by nerves associated with the opening day and pitching against a strong opponent like Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Tokyo. The Diamondbacks possess a talented lineup with significant power. Although Pfaadt has previously performed well against the Cubs in his career, it is likely that Imanaga will have the upper hand in this match due to his diverse pitching arsenal and the Cubs' proven ability to score runs consistently.

Sources: [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ]