Arizona Diamondbacks at Chicago Cubs 7/23/21 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Friday MLB schedule will get underway with a matinee between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs from Wrigley Field. The Diamondbacks (30-68) are riding a four-game winning streak and own the worst overall record in the National League. On Wednesday, Pavin Smith and Daulton Varsho hit back-to-back home runs to lift Arizona to a 6-4 road victory against Pittsburgh.

Twenty-five year old righty Zac Gallen (1-4 3.86 ERA) will make his 11th start of the season for the Diamondbacks. In his last start, Gallen allowed one run in five plus innings during a 4-2 home loss versus Chicago.

The Chicago Cubs have won 28 of their first 45 home games and are nine games off the pace in the NL Central Division race. Last night, Chicago managed just three hits and struck out ten times during a 3-2 road loss against St. Louis. SP Adbert Alzolay (4-10) gave up three runs in six innings and took the loss for the Cubs (47-50).

Chicago manager David Ross will turn to twenty-eight year old righty Zach Davies (5-6 4.35 ERA) in the series opener. The Cubs have lost Davies’ last four starts and he has given up nine runs over his last 18 innings of work.