MLB wagering on Thursday includes the first game of a four-game series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs may get more of the baseball wagering action in this game but it is the Diamondbacks who have done well in recent history against Chicago.
MLB wagering trends indicate that the Diamondbacks have won six of the last ten games against Chicago. The last time these two teams met in Chicago was late last season and Arizona won two of the three. They won 12-3 and 5-2. The Cubs did get a 5-0 win behind Randy Wells. The Diamondbacks also won two of the three games between the two teams at Arizona.
The Diamondbacks have struggled away from home this season so that is a concern if you are taking Arizona vs. the MLB wagering odds in this game. Arizona has not been a very good road team in recent seasons and that is one reason they have not made the playoffs. Another reason is that Arizona has some pitching concerns. They have Dan Haren and they got Edwin Jackson in the off-season but Brandon Webb started the season on the DL and they may not get him back for quite some time. Without Webb leading the rotation the Diamondbacks simply are not an elite team. Arizona can score but they have not been able to make up for their lack of pitching. What has happened with Arizona though is that their games are going over the total so that is something to keep in mind in this series. Historically some of the games between the Cubs and Diamondbacks have been high scoring and that could be the case with this series in Chicago.
Chicago is one of the most overrated teams in all of baseball wagering. If they do not improve their play it would not be a surprise to see manager Lou Piniella fired. The Cubs have been thought of as contenders for the last couple of years but there is not much to indicate that is going to be the case. Chicago has some big names like Carlos Zambrano and Derrek Lee but overall the team is simply underachieving. The Cubs have been better at home than on the road though and they are capable of winning some games in this series against Arizona. The teams will play throughout the weekend and it should be a competitive series.