Caleb Wilfinger
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The 2022 MLB season is in full swing and we have another full slate of games on Friday. There are a number of intriguing matchups, including this National League clash between the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks starting at 9:40 pm ET.
What better way to celebrate this Friday matchup than by betting a same game parlay? We also have thoughts on the side and total, which you can find out in our full game preview.
Arizona Diamondbacks ML (-125)
Under 9 (-114)
Ketel Marte to record an RBI (+115)
Parlay odds: +729
We have come up with a 3-leg parlay, which would pay out at more than 7/1 odds with FanDuel Sportsbook. Let’s break down each leg.
Arizona Diamondbacks ML (-125)
The Diamondbacks have been one of the league’s pleasant surprises so far. Arizona is currently above .500 and outperforming expectations, primarily due to its pitching. Zach Davies gets the ball on Friday and should see success against a weak Cubs offense. Chicago is one of the worst teams in baseball in strikeout rate and doesn’t have much power to begin with. Davis is very good at limiting hard contact and his numbers have reflected that in recent starts, allowing no runs in his last 11.0 innings pitched. With Davies in good form, it’s unlikely that the Cubs’ lineup break out of its funk on Friday.
Arizona has not been setting records at the plate, either, but it should be able to scratch a few runs across against Drew Smyly. The Cubs’ starter has been solid to this point, but his best starts have come against the Pirates. While the Diamondbacks have been elite on offense, they are 6-2 in their last eight home games and 5-1 as favorites for a reason. With Davies limiting the Cubs’ offense, look for Arizona to grind out a close victory in the desert.
Under 9 (-114)
Finding multiple correlating legs is a key factor in any same game parlay. In this case I think a Diamondbacks win pairs nicely with a low-scoring game. Both teams have struggled offensively through the first month, and that shouldn’t change on Friday. Chase Field is historically a hitters park, but Davies and Smyly should contain both offenses. Once the game reaches the later innings, the Cubs’ bullpen is more than capable of limiting the Arizona bats. And while the back end of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen is weaker, Arizona’s arms should get a boost against a Cubs lineup that strikes out nearly 25% of the time. It may not look like a pitchers’ duel on paper, but expect this to be a low-scoring affair.
Ketel Marte to record an RBI (+115)
Including legs that seem conflicting always increases your odds in a same game parlay. But I don’t think Ketel Marte having success conflicts with the game going under the total. April was a struggle for Marte. The infielder was hitting just .146 through the first month, but has since raised his average over 50 points. Marte has clearly raised his level, collecting 12 hits in his last 10 games, including a 9-game on base streak. While this streak was snapped on Wednesday, expect the Diamondbacks talisman to bounce back in a big way.
Marte was one of the best hitters in the NL a season ago and has seemingly found his 2021 form in recent games. What’s more is we don’t even need a great performance from him to cash this final leg. The versatile infielder drove in 92 runs in his last full season, and is no stranger to picking up clutch hits. Marte can be expected to get at least 4 at-bats on Friday, so I’m confident in backing him to deliver at a plus-money price.
What is a Same Game Parlay?
Check out our guide on what is a same game parlay and where can I bet it?
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