Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction, 7/17/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks

Date: Saturday, July 17, 2021

Location: Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ

TV: Bally Sports Arizona

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-135) Arizona (+110)

Taylor Widener and the Arizona Diamondbacks (26-66, 5th in NL West) host the Chicago Cubs (44-46, 3rd in NL Central) at Chase Field on Saturday. The Diamondbacks open this game at +110 while the Cubs are priced at -135. The O/U has been set at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers will be Adbert Alzolay and Taylor Widener.

As a team, the Chicago Cubs are notching 4.2 runs per game, which puts them at 18th in the league. They have racked up 378 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .305. The Cubs have tallied 114 doubles as a squad and have smacked 114 baseballs out of the park. They have amassed 361 runs batted in as well as 660 hits so far this year, and their team batting average sits at .227. Chicago has a slugging percentage of .394 and have been called out on strikes 870 times, while taking a walk on 288 occasions.

Cubs pitchers have given up 117 home runs and also 402 runs in total (17th in MLB). They have walked 341 batters and their FIP comes in at 4.59 as a team for the year. They have a K/BB ratio of 2.32 and the pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.32. The Cubs have an ERA of 4.13 on the year (15th in MLB), and the staff has rung up 792 hitters.

The Cubs bullpen have accumulated a save rate of 71.9% and has come into the game in 92 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 144 base runners this season and 30.6% of them earned a run for their team. Cubs relief pitchers have entered the contest with runners on 92 times in addition to having 95 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have dispatched 331 relievers to the hill on the year. The relievers have earned 59 holds on the year (3rd in MLB). They have earned 23 saves on the year and have blown 9 of their 32 save chances.

The Cubs have turned 70.8% of balls hit into play into outs out of 7,101 innings on the field, which has them ranked 7th in professional baseball. The Chicago Cubs have a tally of 2,367 putouts for the season, as well as 862 assists and 49 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .985 which is 8th in baseball, and they have twisted 562 double plays.

Alzolay (6-11 career mark) sits with a FIP of 5.00 and he has faced 462 batters during his time in the major leagues. He has surrendered 87 base knocks (7.1 hits per 9 innings) with 44 free passes. His ERA is 4.62 (57 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.180. Alzolay has taken the ball for 111 innings and has earned 123 K's during his pro baseball career.

The Diamondbacks have a slugging percentage of .371 and they are scoring 4.14 runs per contest (22nd in the league). They have notched 159 doubles, while getting a free base 307 times as well as putting up 381 runs. Arizona is sitting with 82 home runs so far this year and 358 RBIs. They have struck out on 834 occasions (8th in MLB) and have accounted for 722 base hits. The Arizona Diamondbacks have an OBP of .305 in addition to a team batting average of .231 on the season.

The Arizona pitching staff have conceded 531 runs so far this year while holding a team ERA of 5.40 (479 earned runs conceded). They have surrendered 135 dingers and they relinquish 5.99 runs per 9 innings (30th in MLB). The Diamondbacks hold a team WHIP of 1.476 in addition to having a FIP of 4.95 as a pitching staff for the season. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.24 (706 strikeouts vs 315 free passes). They are sitting at 30th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 863.

Arizona has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the game in 26 save opportunities and they have come away with 9 saves. They sit at 30th in the league with a save percentage of 34.6%, and they have sent 320 bullpen pitchers to the mound this year. Their relief pitchers have come in 77 times in high leverage situations and on 76 occasions with runners on base. Arizona bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 29.5% out of their 112 inherited base runners. Sitting with 60 save situations, the Diamondbacks have compiled 34 holds in addition to 17 blown saves.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have turned 56 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .982 (23rd in professional baseball). The Diamondbacks have accrued 815 assists, 58 errors and have notched a total of 2,394 putouts over the course of the season. In their 7,182 innings on the field, the Diamondbacks have a defensive efficiency of 67.7% (27th in baseball).

Thus far in his career, Widener has surrendered 37 base knocks while he has accumulated 47 strikeouts in 48 frames. He has allowed a total of 18 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.221 and having a FIP of 5.7. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.14 and he has faced 210 hitters during his career. Widener (1-1 career mark) has a 3.35 earned run average and has surrendered 6.9 hits per 9 innings.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Chicago (-135) and over 8.5 runs

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