Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction: Can Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks Dominate This Rubber Match?
Last night's Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks was an absolute thriller. How will this rubber match play out? Ben Rajavuori shares his Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondback prediction.
Ben Rajavuori - April 17, 2024, 1:29 PM EDT
5 minChicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction: Can Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks Dominate This Rubber Match?
The Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks close out a three-game series from Chase Field tonight. This is a rubber match in game three, as the Cubs took game one on Monday and the Diamondbacks won yesterday. Both games have gone to extra innings and have been fantastic as an MLB fan. I doubt we see a third straight extra-innings game tonight, but crazier things have happened in the sports world before. What should we expect in tonight’s game?
Cubs vs. Diamondbacks DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: April 17, 2024
- Start Time: 3:40 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: MLB Extra Innings
Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction
The Cubs will send out starting pitcher Jordan Wicks to the mound tonight. The lefty has had a rough start to the season, sporting a 0–2 pitcher record and a 5.68 ERA. This is his second season in the MLB, and he had short work last year. Last season, he had seven starts and ended with a 4.41 ERA. Wicks has had somewhat of a short leash, as he has not made it past four innings yet this season. He will have a tough outing against this Diamondbacks lineup that has crushed lefties this year. The Diamondbacks will counter with Brandon Pfaadt. Pfaadt has had a similar rough start to his season, sporting a 6.48 ERA over his first three starts this year. He is also a second player and struggled last year, much like Wicks, as he had a 5.72 ERA over 18 starts last year.
Pfaadt is coming off two rough outings against the Cardinals and Braves, but I like him to bounce back against this Cubs team. The Cubs still have some injured players not in the lineup, and the Cubs batting average leader to start the season, Seiya Suzuki (.305), is now on the IL as well with an oblique injury.
I believe the Diamondbacks can take this rubber match and steal the series tonight at home. Going back to my earlier point about Wicks struggling against this lineup, he will face a formidable Diamondbacks team today. Early on this season, the Diamondbacks have been the best team in the MLB against left-handed pitching.
They are batting .309 against lefties and are the only team batting above .300 against southpaws in 2024. They also only have a 14.4% strikeout rate against Letty pitching, which is the lowest in the MLB. Eugenio Suarez and Corbin Carroll have been crushing lefties, and I expect Jordan Wicks will have a lot of trouble against his lineup today.
Both bullpens are also in rough shape after back-to-back extra-inning games to start the series, but the Cubs are a little more shorthanded and do not have their best arms available today. The Diamondbacks do have Ryan Thompson, Joe Mantiply, and Bryce Jarvis all available for this one. With a little bit fresher bullpen and a much better matchup against the opposing starter, the Diamondbacks are in a good spot to win this series tonight.
Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Pick
Pick: Diamondbacks ML -130 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
MLB ODDS
