Chicago (89-62) at Arizona (78-74)
When: Wednesday, September 19th 2018
Where: Chase Field,
Phoenix, Arizona
Time: 9:40 ET | TV: NBCS Chicago,
FS Arizona
Opening Odds: Chicago -114/8
Two teams going in opposite directions will wrap-up a three-game series on Wednesday as the surging Chicago Cubs go for the sweep of the fading Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The Cubs easily took the first two games of this series by a combined 14-2 score, and have won five of their last seven overall. Javier Baez and Daniel Murphy each smashed two-run homers and Anthony Rizzo also drove in two runs as the Cubs increased their lead over Milwaukee in the National League Central to 3.5 games. Murphy, who is batting just .220 this month, scored three runs in Tuesday’s 9-1 thumping of the D’Backs. The Cubs will go the rest of the season without reliever Brandon Morrow (elbow), who is done after experiencing pain following a simulated game on Saturday. Arizona is rapidly falling out of postseason contention with four straight losses and 14 of 18 overall. They sit six games behind both the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and St. Louis for the second wild-card berth. Outfielder Steven Souza Jr. struck out three times in four hitless at-bats on Tuesday and is 3-for-42 with 20 strikeouts in September.
Pitchers: Cubs – Cole Hamels (9-9, 3.67 ERA) | Diamondbacks – Robbie Ray (5-2, 4.14)
Cole Hamels has been one of the best trade-deadline acquisitions this season, posting a perfect 4-0 mark and 1.57 ERA in nine starts since coming over from Texas. The veteran lefty hasn’t received a decision in his last four outings despite posting a 2.70 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 23 innings during that stretch. Hamels is 4-2 with a 3.47 ERA in nine career starts against the Diamondbacks.
Robbie Ray has been solid since suffering a loss to Colorado prior to the All-Star Break, but hasn’t been getting much run support. In his last 11 starts, Ray has posted just two decisions (both wins) and has a 1.93 ERA over his last five starts. He allowed one run and four hits over seven innings in a no-decision against the Cubs on July 25th and is 0-1 with a 2.50 ERA in three career starts versus them.
This is an easy call for me. The Cubs have been pounding the ball this series and their pitching has been outstanding over the last few weeks. Look for Hamels to keep his undefeated record in tact, while the Cubs offense does their job against Ray.
Pick: Cubs -105
BETTING TRENDS:
- Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Cubs are 10-2 in their last 12 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 overall.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 games on grass.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. National League West.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 10-3 in their last 13 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 5-2 in their last 7 road games.
- Cubs are 10-4 in their last 14 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 41-18 in their last 59 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Cubs are 9-4 in their last 13 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 21-10 in their last 31 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Cubs are 4-1 in Hamels’ last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Cubs are 7-2 in Hamels’ last 9 starts.
- Cubs are 7-2 in Hamels’ last 9 starts on grass.
- Diamondbacks are 4-0 in their last 4 games after losing the first 2 games of a series.
- Diamondbacks are 21-44 in their last 65 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Diamondbacks are 3-7 in their last 10 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Diamondbacks are 2-5 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Diamondbacks are 4-13 in their last 17 Wednesday games.
- Diamondbacks are 5-17 in their last 22 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Diamondbacks are 3-11 in their last 14 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Diamondbacks are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a loss.
- Diamondbacks are 1-4 in their last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Diamondbacks are 1-6 in their last 7 vs. National League Central.
- Diamondbacks are 1-6 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Diamondbacks are 0-4 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Diamondbacks are 0-4 in their last 4 during game 3 of a series.
- Diamondbacks are 0-4 in their last 4 overall.
- Diamondbacks are 0-4 in their last 4 games on grass.
- Diamondbacks are 0-4 in their last 4 home games.
- Diamondbacks are 7-3 in Ray’s last 10 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Diamondbacks are 5-11 in Ray’s last 16 Wednesday starts.
- Diamondbacks are 2-5 in Ray’s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Diamondbacks are 2-6 in Ray’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Diamondbacks are 1-4 in Ray’s last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
- Diamondbacks are 1-4 in Ray’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Diamondbacks are 1-5 in Ray’s last 6 home starts.
- Diamondbacks are 0-4 in Ray’s last 4 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 8-1 in Cubs last 9 overall.
- Under is 8-1 in Cubs last 9 on grass.
- Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 Wednesday games.
- Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 games following a win.
- Over is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 road games.
- Over is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 4-0 in Hamels’ last 4 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 7-1 in Hamels’ last 8 starts on grass.
- Under is 7-1 in Hamels’ last 8 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Hamels’ last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 5-0 in Diamondbacks last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 5-0 in Diamondbacks last 5 Wednesday games.
- Under is 9-1 in Diamondbacks last 10 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 7-1 in Diamondbacks last 8 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Diamondbacks last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 5-1 in Diamondbacks last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Diamondbacks last 6 home games.
- Over is 7-2 in Diamondbacks last 9 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 7-2 in Diamondbacks last 9 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 9-4 in Diamondbacks last 13 overall.
- Over is 9-4 in Diamondbacks last 13 on grass.
- Over is 9-4 in Diamondbacks last 13 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Under is 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Over is 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 16-6-1 in Ray’s last 23 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 21-8-1 in Ray’s last 30 home starts.
- Under is 5-2 in Ray’s last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 5-2 in Ray’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 7-3 in Ray’s last 10 Wednesday starts.
- Cubs are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Cubs are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Arizona.
- Under is 5-2-1 in the last 8 meetings.
