Arrieta, Cubs eye sweep of Diamondbacks
Promising Arizona southpaw Patrick Corbin endured an absolutely brutal May. Could the Cubs be about to ruin his first turn in June, too?
Chicago takes aim at a sweep of the Diamondbacks this afternoon, with a 2:20 p.m. ET first pitch at Wrigley Field. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives Jake Arrieta and company odds of -340 to accomplish the feat. The visitors, conversely, are considered +270 underdogs.
The unthinkable actually happened in Arrieta’s assignment on Tuesday: Chicago lost. Joe Maddon’s group hadn’t dropped a decision in the previous 24 contests with the sport’s best righty on the mound. Arrieta (9-0, 1.56 ERA) managed to preserve his unblemished record, though, throwing seven scoreless frames vs. the Dodgers.
Now he’ll get another opportunity to become the first Cubs hurler to start 10-0 since Jim McCormick in 1886. Whether the D-backs can muster much resistance is a major question. Chip Hale’s outfit has fallen in nine of 12 and six of seven on the road. Jean Segura’s recent slide even leaves Arizona without a single .300 hitter.
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Then there’s the matter of Corbin (2-5, 4.96). He matched a season high earlier in the week by surrendering seven runs in 3 1/3 innings of an 8-5 setback to the Astros. The New York native has allowed 17 runs across his past 21 2/3 frames, resembling anything but the man the organization envisioned when it made him a second-round selection in the 2009 draft.
Bank on Arrieta returning to the win column in a big way. Chicago’s also poised to conclude this 10-game homestand with a 9-1 mark. Astonishing stuff, and the ride doesn’t seem in jeopardy of sacrificing steam anytime soon.
SUNDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS -1.5
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