The last game on the betting board has the Cubs and Dbacks battling it out in the desert on Sunday night (east coast) with Wildcard implications. Get Cliff's take and pick. An important match in Phoenix as National League wild-card hopefuls, the Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks, wrap up their three-game series on Sunday night. The rookie right-hander Ryne Nelson will be taking the mound for Arizona, while the rookie lefty Jordan Wicks will be representing the Cubbies. Who should you back in this matchup for your free baseball betting pick?

MLB Betting Odds

The Sunday baseball betting market opened with this game set as a close-to-even contest, with odds hovering around the pick 'em mark. The over/under has been set at 9 runs, and both figures have remained steady in the early betting action.

Cubs-Diamondbacks Betting Preview

The Arizona Diamondbacks started this series on a high note, winning the opener 6-4 on Friday and clinching a dramatic 7-6 victory on Saturday with two runs in the bottom of the 13th inning. The Diamondbacks pulled off a surprise win on Friday as +120 underdogs against Justin Steele and repeated their success on Saturday at +100 against Kyle Hendricks. Both games in this series have exceeded the projected totals. With Saturday's triumph, the Arizona Diamondbacks have compiled a 6-4 record in their last 10 games. Sitting at 78-72 overall, they are currently tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the No. 3 spot in the NL wild-card standings. In contrast, the Chicago Cubs have faced some struggles, posting a 2-7 record in their last nine games. They sit at 78-71 overall and hold onto the No. 2 spot in the NL wild-card race, just half a game ahead of the Diamondbacks and the Reds. The Diamondbacks have been dominant in their season series against the Cubs, winning five out of six games.

Sunday's Pitching Match-Up

Rookie Ryne Nelson is making his third start since returning from a month-long stint in Triple-A to refine his form. In his most recent start, 10 days ago, he held the Cubs to just one run and two hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-2 Arizona victory. However, he faced some adversity last Tuesday when the New York Mets scored six runs, including two home runs, against him in just 4 1/3 innings, resulting in a 7-4 loss for the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks have registered an 11-15 record with Nelson this season, and he has struggled in his last four outings, with only one win to his name. Jordan Wicks has been a bright spot for the Cubs since his Major League debut three weeks ago. In his most recent start on Monday, he held the Colorado Rockies to just one run and two hits across six innings, contributing to a 5-4 victory for Chicago. Over his four starts in the Majors, he has surrendered only five runs and 19 hits in 22 2/3 innings, with five walks and 15 strikeouts. The Cubs boast a perfect 4-0 record with Wicks on the mound. This will be Wicks' first-ever appearance against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Splits With the Sticks

The Chicago Cubs have maintained a solid .251 batting average against right-handed pitching this season, accompanied by a .331 team on-base percentage and a .412 team slugging percentage. In contrast, the Arizona Diamondbacks have struggled against left-handed pitching, with a slash line of .249/.314/.395.

The Bullpens

The Diamondbacks' bullpen has posted a 4.50 ERA for the season, along with a 1.33 WHIP and a 2.46 K/BB ratio. The Cubs' bullpen has been slightly more efficient with a 3.96 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a 2.36 K/BB ratio.

MLB Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs have managed a 37-37 record on the road this season and have excelled against right-handed starters, boasting a 52-49 record in such matchups. At home, the Arizona Diamondbacks have secured 40 wins out of 75 games, and they hold a respectable 26-21 record against left-handed starters.

Totals Report

Throughout the season, the Chicago Cubs have seen an even split of totals, with 72 games leaning towards the over. The Arizona Diamondbacks have encountered more Unders this season, with 77 games going under the total. At Chase Field, the Unders have been favored, with 40 out of 70 games ending below the projected total.