The Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks start a three-game weekend series with Friday’s only matinee when they play at 2:20 p.m. ET at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. Right hand pitcher Danny Haren (4-1, 3.12 ERA) will toe the mound for Arizona while lefty Ted Lilly will counter for Chicago. Oddsmakers at Bodoglife.com currently have the Cubs listed as 110-moneyline favorites versus the Diamondbacks, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
Haren did not figure in the decision his last time out despite allowing only two runs in six innings, as Johan Santana and the Mets rallied in the ninth for a 5-2 win. Haren's four wins only tie him for second-most on the Diamondbacks, but he's having an ace-like season, posting a 0.99 WHIP that ranks third-best in the league. He has pitched well in all but one of his starts this year as he got hit hard by the Dodgers in Los Angeles. And while many pitchers get hit harder in day games, Haren actually allows fewer runs and hits during daylight hours. Haren is, however, 0-1 with a 12.46 ERA at Wrigley Field.
Lilly had the best full season of his career in his first year as a member of the Cubs, going 15-8 with a 3.83 ERA, but allowed four or five runs in each of his first four starts this year to begin the year 0-3. However, in his last three turns, Lilly has allowed one, two and three runs, respectively, while going 2-1. Lilly is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA in four games against the Diamondbacks and 10-7 with a 4.05 ERA at Wrigley Field. Like Haren, Lilly was a former pitcher for the Athletics.
The Diamondbacks bats came alive on Thursday as they cruised past the Phillies 8-3 for a split of the four-game series. The Diamondbacks won that game as -145 favorites, and the 11 runs made it OVER the posted over/under (8).
Chris Snyder went 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs to lead the way. Brandon Webb gave up three runs off six hits in a complete game victory.
The Cubs were shut out 9-0 by the Reds in the series finale on Wednesday, as +130 road underdogs. The nine runs went as a PUSH against the posted over/under (9).
Jon Lieber gave up five runs off seven hits over just two innings to suffer the loss on the mound.
Point-Spreads.com MLB Pick: Diamondbacks ML +104
