VIC DUKE
Diamondbacks vs. Phillies
Play: Diamondbacks -118
Arizona/Philadelphia 4:05: Arizona on a nice 8-1 tear while Philadelphia continues to sink on a 1-9 slide. We'll look for Arizona to continue to control this series with Zach Godley getting the nod. Godley sporting a respectable 2.44 ERA and has the backing of a decent bullpen (3.51 ERA). On the other hand, Philadelphia's Eickhoff is now 0-13 in team starts and getting little support from the Phillies' lineup. Eickhoff sports a bloated 5.09 ERA and the Phillies' bullpen (4.58 ERA) can't be trusted. With the road team controlling this series to the tune of 9-0, we'll roll with the hot team here.
Larry Ness
Chicago at Pittsburgh
Play; Chicago
The Cubs arrived in Pittsburgh Friday for a three-game series with the Pirates. Chicago's road woes have been well-documented, as they have lost six straight road series, going 4-14 over that span. However, the 'light at the end of the tunnel' is the fact that the last road series the Cubs won came right here in Pittsburgh, when they took two of three from the Pirates back from April 24-26. Friday night's win could be the spark this 33-33 team needs, as Chicago won 9-5 by putting up a six-run ninth inning! The Pirates led 4-3 into the ninth but the Cubs teed off on Nicasio and demoted closer Tony Watson. The meltdown prevented the Pirates from winning for the fifth time in six games, and leaves Pittsburgh at 30-37.
Jake Arrieta (6-4, 4.68 ERA) will start for Chicago, opposed by Ivan Nova (6-4, 2.83 ERA). It's been a struggle for Arrieta this season and after putting together two straight quality starts, he regressed by allowing four runs over just 4.1 innings in Sunday's 7-5 home win over the Rockies (Arrieta didn't figure in the decision). However, the good news here is that Arrieta is 10-3 with a 2.81 ERA in 17 starts in his career against the Pirates (teams are 13-4).
While Arrieta has struggled in 2017, Ivan Nova has allowed more than three ERs only twice in 13 starts (his ERA is almost two full runs lower than Arrieta's). The former Yankee has gone at least six innings in all 13 of his 2017 stars but the shame is, Pittsburgh has gone a modest 7-6 in his starts. Nova faced the Cubs once last season (his only career meeting against them), and held them to one run on four hits over 5.1 innings in a no-decision.
I realize that the Cubs haven't won back-to-back road games since April 24-25 but those wins came right here at PNC Park. Deja vu. Cubs win, Cubs win!