Arizona Diamondbacks vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/1/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Friday, May 1, 2026

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: Arizona (+125) Chicago (-145)

The Chicago Cubs (19-12) will compete against the Arizona Diamondbacks (16-13) at Wrigley Field on Friday. The moneyline on this contest has Arizona at +125 while Chicago is coming in at -145. The over/under is 8. The expected starting pitchers are Zac Gallen and Colin Rea.

As a team, the Arizona Diamondbacks are scoring 4.8 runs per contest, which is 8th in the league. They have 140 runs and have an on-base percentage of .310. The Diamondbacks have hit 54 doubles as a squad and have hit 31 baseballs out of the stadium. They have earned 134 runs batted in in addition to 244 base knocks this year, and their batting average is .252. Arizona has a slugging percentage of .425 and have been called out on strikes 227 times, while taking a walk on 79 occasions.

Get all of our Free MLB Picks

They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.25 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.36. Diamondbacks pitchers have conceded 38 home runs and also 152 total runs (24th in MLB). Arizona has allowed 253 base hits (8.9 per 9 innings) and 135 earned runs. The Diamondbacks have an earned run average of 4.72 on the season (26th in the league), and their staff has struck out 216 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 96 opposing batters and their FIP sits at 4.58 as a unit on the year.

The Diamondbacks have dispatched 105 relief pitchers to the mound so far this year. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 38 runners on the year with 28.9% of them crossing the plate. The relief pitchers are sitting with 25 holds for the season (1st in MLB). Diamondbacks relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 27 times in addition to having 45 appearances in high leverage situations. They have 9 saves on the campaign and have missed out on 6 of 15 chances to get a save. The Diamondbacks relievers have accumulated a save rate of 60.0% and have stepped onto the mound in 41 save situations.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are sitting with 772 putouts on the campaign, as well as 262 assists and 16 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .985 which ranks 20th in baseball, and they have turned 18 double plays. The Diamondbacks have transformed 70.1% of balls in play into outs out of 2,316 innings, which has them sitting at 15th in professional baseball.

Gallen has taken the hill for 1,035 innings and has earned 1,077 strikeouts thus far in his career. Gallen (67-53 win-loss record in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 3.52 while going up against 4,262 hitters during his time in the major leagues. His earned run average is 3.57 (411 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.165. He has conceded 875 hits (7.6 hits per 9 innings) and has 331 walks.

The Chicago Cubs have an on-base percentage of .353 in addition to a team batting average of .261 for the season. They have been called out on strikes on 257 instances (14th in MLB) and have notched a total of 279 base hits. Chicago has accumulated 42 HRs this year and 154 runs batted in. The Cubs hold a team slugging % of .427 and they average 5.45 runs per game (3rd in baseball). They have 46 doubles, while taking a walk 141 times and racking up 169 runs.

The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 134 runs on the campaign while having a team ERA of 4.01 (123 earned runs conceded). They have conceded 36 dingers and they relinquish 4.37 runs per 9 innings (10th in the league). The Cubs have a WHIP of 1.188 and have a FIP of 4.13 as a unit so far this year. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.20 (251 strikeouts vs 94 free passes). They sit at 9th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 234.

With 18 save situations, the Cubs have accrued 6 holds in addition to 5 blown saves. Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to take the mound in 11 save chances and they have come away with 6 saves. Chicago bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 31.8% of 44 inherited base runners. Their relievers have come in 29 times in high leverage situations in addition to 32 occasions with base runners. They are currently ranked 23rd in baseball with a save percentage of 54.5%, and they have dispatched 91 relief pitchers to the mound this season.

The Chicago Cubs have turned 21 double plays and have a fielding rate of .986 (16th in professional baseball). The Cubs have racked up 272 assists, 16 errors and have amassed 828 putouts this year. In their 2,484 innings played, the Cubs hold a efficiency on defense of 72.3% (4th in MLB).

Rea (40-28 record in his career) has a 4.42 earned run average while surrendering 8.7 hits per nine innings. His K/BB ratio is 2.71 and he has faced 2,683 batters so far in his MLB career. He has given up a total of 311 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.270 and having a FIP of 4.4. So far in his MLB career, Rea has given up 613 hits while he has tallied 517 punch outs in 633 frames.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Arizona (+125)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get MLB picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.