Cubs look to stay hot vs. Diamondbacks
One win shy of starting 3-0 for the first time in 28 years, the Cubs aim to keep mashing when they arrive in Arizona tonight.
As will be the case on most occasions, oddsmakers stand firmly behind Chicago in the opener of a four-game set. Online sports book BetDSI likes Joe Maddon’s club as a 1.5-run favorite, with the over/under total at nine runs.
Seemingly everybody’s preseason pick to take the World Series has justified the hype through a mere 18 innings. The Cubs outscored the Angels 15-1, collecting 20 hits in the process. Front-end starters Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester offered stellar showings on the mound, too.
At 8:40 p.m. ET, John Lackey gets his first chance to deal in a Chicago uniform. Lured away from division rival St. Louis over the winter, the 37-year-old veteran will tussle with an Arizona lineup that bats .310. Perennial MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt simply adores facing Windy City hurlers, too, hitting a career .397 with 14 RBIs off them.
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The Diamondbacks’ problem in their initial series of the campaign: pitching, pitching and more pitching. Chip Hale’s crew allowed 10 homers in dropping two of three to Colorado. Rubby De La Rosa, who went 14-9 with a 4.67 ERA in 2015, is tasked with neutralizing Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward in several hours.
Interestingly, the Cubs’ much-ballyhooed trio has started a combined 1 for 20 at the plate. We foresee an immediate get-well opportunity.
THURSDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS -1.5
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