Cubs vs. Diamondbacks Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 5/21/2022

After a three-homer game last time out, Josh Rojas leads the Arizona Diamondbacks (20-21) into action as +123 underdogs against the Chicago Cubs (15-23). First pitch from Wrigley Field at 2:20 PM ET Saturday. Chicago’s Justin Steele gets the start, and he’ll go against Arizona’s Madison Bumgarner.

Cubs vs. Diamondbacks Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Cubs vs. Diamondbacks

Our computer pick: Arizona Diamondbacks (+123)

Cubs vs. Diamondbacks Game Info

• Chicago Cubs probable starting pitcher: Justin Steele
• Arizona Diamondbacks probable starting pitcher: Madison Bumgarner
• Game Day: Saturday, May 21, 2022
• Game Time: 2:20 PM ET
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Stadium: Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks Pitching Matchup

Cubs Starter Justin Steele

• Steele makes the start for the Cubs, his eighth of the season. He is 1-4 with a 4.50 ERA and 29 strikeouts through 28 innings pitched.
• In his most recent appearance on Sunday, the lefty threw six innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing one earned run while surrendering three hits.
• In seven games this season, the 26-year-old has an ERA of 4.50, with 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are batting .261 against him.
• Steele has registered one quality start this season.
• Steele has put up two starts this campaign in which he pitched five or more innings.
• He meets a Diamondbacks offense that ranks 20th in the league with 153 runs while batting .208 as a squad. It has a collective .370 slugging percentage (19th in MLB action) and has hit a total of 49 home runs (fifth in MLB).
• In six innings over one appearance against the Diamondbacks this season, Steele has a 1.50 ERA and a 0.833 WHIP while his opponents are batting .136.

Diamondbacks Starter Madison Bumgarner

• The Diamondbacks will send Bumgarner (2-2) to the mound for his ninth start this season.
• The left-hander last pitched on Tuesday, when he gave up three earned runs and allowed six hits in five innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• The 32-year-old has pitched to a 2.29 ERA this season with 5.3 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 3.6 walks per nine across eight games.
• He has one quality starts in eight chances this season.
• Bumgarner will look to pitch five or more innings for the third start in a row.
• The Cubs have scored 155 runs this season, which ranks 17th in MLB. They are batting .231 for the campaign with 33 home runs, 18th in the league.

Cubs Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Cubs have been favored 11 times and won four, or 36.4%, of those games.
• This season, Chicago has won three of its eight games when favored by at least -143 on the moneyline.
• The Cubs have a 58.8% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• So far this season, Chicago and its opponents have hit the over in 17 of their 38 games with a total.
• The Cubs have an ATS record of 20-18-0 in 38 games with a spread this season.

Diamondbacks Betting Picks & Insights

• The Diamondbacks have won in 19, or 47.5%, of the 40 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
• Arizona has a win-loss record of 12-17 when favored by +123 or worse by sportsbooks this year.
• The Diamondbacks have an implied victory probability of 44.8% according to the moneyline set by sportsbooks for this matchup.
• Arizona and their opponents have gone over in 19 of their 46 games with a total set by sportsbooks this season.
• The Diamondbacks have posted a record of 27-19-0 against the spread this season.

Cubs Leaders & Batting Stats

• Willson Contreras has seven doubles, a triple, five home runs and 16 walks while batting .254.
• Contreras ranks 53rd in homers and 117th in RBI among all hitters in MLB.
• Ian Happ’s 18 runs batted in and .265 batting average both pace his team.
• Among all MLB hitters, Happ is 117th in homers and 67th in RBI.
• Seiya Suzuki leads the Cubs with 18 runs batted in.
• Patrick Wisdom’s seven home runs and 18 runs batted in are both team-highs.

Diamondbacks Leaders & Batting Stats

• Christian Walker paces the Diamondbacks with 10 long balls and runs batted in, driving in 19.
• Among all batters in the majors, Walker’s home run total is sixth and his RBI tally ranks 60th.
• Daulton Varsho has a club-best .250 batting average.
• Varsho is 25th in homers and 75th in RBI among all major league hitters this year.
• David Peralta has six doubles, seven home runs and 16 walks while hitting .222.
• Ketel Marte has 13 doubles, a triple, two home runs and 13 walks while hitting .231.

Betting Tips for Cubs vs. Diamondbacks

We have the Diamondbacks on the moneyline at +123 on the moneyline as our best bet in this game after taking a look at all of the key statistics and trends for this matchup.