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Cubs vs D-backs Expert Picks & Predictions

Jordan Tomiyama

By Jordan Tomiyama in MLB Baseball

Published:


Alex Bregman after hitting a home run.
Aug 21, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (3) hits a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
  • The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Chicago Cubs in a National League duel
  • Is Nolan Arenado primed to get a hit against Kevin Gausman?
  • Keep reading to see our expert predictions, best bets, and the latest odds

The Chicago Cubs (75-56) head to Chase Field to battle the Arizona Diamondbacks (69-62) tonight at 9:40 p.m. ET on August 24. Both squads are ROLLING; the Cubs just obliterated Seattle 19-2, while the Diamondbacks snagged a gritty 5-3 win over Cincinnati. Chicago enters as a slight -140 moneyline road favorite with veteran Kevin Gausman scheduled to take the bump against Merrill Kelly. This tight betting landscape creates massive opportunities. Grab your betting sheet with the latest MLB odds because I have isolated the absolute BEST angles for tonight. Keep reading for my sharpest MLB player prop picks.

Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks Player Prop Picks

Uncovering the sharpest MLB player prop bets means digging into predictive trends, recent at-bats, and head-to-head history. Here are my three favorite player prop predictions for tonight’s matchup.

Alex Bregman Over 0.5 RBIs (+140 at BetMGM)

Despite a tough 0-for-8 career mark with two strikeouts against Merrill Kelly, Alex Bregman is perfectly positioned to drive in runs tonight. Kelly has surrendered a bloated 5.372 ERA and 1.519 WHIP this season, meaning there will be plenty of traffic on the basepaths.

Bregman is LOCKED IN, boasting eight RBIs and a .263 batting average over his last 10 games. The trends heavily support this angle, as he has cleared 0.5 RBIs in six of his last seven road contests (86%).

You can find this stellar value priced at +140 at BetMGM. Claim your BetMGM promo now

Nolan Arenado Over 0.5 Hits (-209 at Caesars)

Nolan Arenado historically struggles against Kevin Gausman, batting .143 (3-for-21) with one dinger and two strikeouts. However, Gausman is having a brutal campaign featuring a 6.188 ERA and 1.375 WHIP.

This presents a prime opportunity for Arenado to snag a base hit. He averages 1.0 hits per game with a .256 average over his last 10 outings. The situational trends are overwhelmingly positive, with Arenado tallying a hit in five of his last six matchups (83%) against the Cubs.

Expect him to lace one into the outfield tonight at -209 odds at Caesars. Start betting at Caesars now

Ian Happ Un 0.5 Hits (+140 at bet365)

Fading Ian Happ is my absolute FAVORITE under play on the board today. Happ has zero hits in four consecutive games against the Diamondbacks, making this a highly appealing angle.

While his career splits against Kelly are solid at 5-for-18 (.278 AVG), his current bat is freezing cold. Happ is hitting just .219 over his last 10 games, averaging a measly 0.7 hits.

With Kelly tossing 5.61 innings per start and posting 5.86 K/9, Happ will have limited trips to the dish to break his slump. Lock in this under at +146 at bet365. Claim your bet365 bonus now

Jordan Tomiyama

Jordan has worked in sports media for the last seven years, writing articles, managing social media, and covering sporting events for various media outlets. Jordan's work focuses on NBA, WNBA, college basketball, and the NHL.

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