Chicago Cubs vs Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction, Preview and Odds - 08/26/2026

Game Time: 3:40 pm ET, Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Venue:  Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ

Where to Watch:  ESPN Unlimited, MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Cubs -108, Diamondbacks -112; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Cubs -110, Diamondbacks -110; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Cubs -110, Diamondbacks -110; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Chicago Cubs:  76-56 (2nd place, NL Central)

Arizona Diamondbacks:  69-63 (3rd place, NL West)

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Chicago Cubs:  5-5 last 10

Arizona Diamondbacks:  5-5 last 10

The Cubs are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Seattle Mariners 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 76-56 record overall and have a road record of 38-29. This is the series finale of a 3-game series with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday with the 2nd game still to be played on Tuesday. The Cubs won the series opener on Monday. Their offense ranks 1st in the MLB with a .763 OPS. Clay Holmes is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Matthew Boyd is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 8-2 with a 4.15 ERA this season. His team lost their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 4 ER, 1 HR, and 2 BB with 3 SO on 6 hits through 6 IP against the Seattle Mariners.

The Diamondbacks are entering this series off a win and won their 3-game series against the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 69-63 record overall and have a home record of 38-29. This is the 3rd game of a 3-game series with the Cubs on Wednesday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Tuesday. The Diamondbacks lost the 1st game of this series on Monday. Their offense ranks 16th in the MLB with a .716 OPS. Brandon Pfaadt is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Eduardo Rodríguez is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA this season. His team won their last 3 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 0 earned runs, 0 homers, and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts on 4 hits through 5.2 innings pitched against the Cincinnati Reds.

The current betting odds have the Diamondbacks listed as a slight favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Cubs have looked really good in their games this season with their 76-56 record overall which has them right near the top of the NL Central. They have been a good road team too with their 38-29 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks have looked good in their games this season with their 69-63 record overall which has them right in the middle of the NL West. They have looked good in their own ballpark too with their 38-29 home record this season. Both teams are 5-5 in their last 10 games respectively and haven't looked great lately, but the Diamondbacks are going to have the better pitching matchup in this one. The Diamondbacks are going with Rodriguez in this one and he has looked great this season. He is 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA and he has been their best starter this year. He is coming off another great start giving up no runs which has been a common theme for him and the team has had a lot of success with him lately too, winning 3 games in a row now with him starting. The Cubs are going with Boyd in this one and he hasn't looked great this year. He is 8-2 with a 4.15 ERA and he has been giving up quite a few runs this season. He is coming off another bad start giving up 4 earned runs which has been a common theme for him and the team has had more trouble with him lately, losing 2 games in a row now with him starting. The Diamondbacks are right on the edge of the last Wild Card spot in the NL and will be motivated to win this game with their best on the mound, so look for them to take advantage of this pitching matchup. The best way to place a bet here is on the Diamondbacks to win this game. 

Cubs Diamondbacks Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Wednesday, August 26, 2026 (3:40 pm ET start time) is Diamondbacks 5 Cubs 2.

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Chicago Cubs: 54-40 (+10.7 units) on the moneyline against NL West opponents. 256-208 (+20.1 units) on the moneyline in all games. 119-113 (+8 units) on the moneyline in road games. 27-18 OVER on the road when the money line is +125 to -125.

Arizona Diamondbacks: 125-105 (-5.8 units) on the moneyline in home games. 61-56 (-7.8 units) on the moneyline at home with a money line of -100 to -150. 48-59 (-7.1 units) on the moneyline when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%). 54-30 OVER at home when the total is 8 to 8.5.

Chicago Cubs:  P. Maton (RP) Sixty Day IL - Knee. E. Cabrera (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Blister. D. Swanson (SS) Ten Day IL - Side. B. Brown (RP) Sixty Day IL - Neck. G. Hollowell (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. M. Shaw (RF) Ten Day IL - Hand. H. Milner (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Appendicitis. R. Martin (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. P. Hodge (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Horton (SP) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. H. Harvey (RP) Sixty Day IL - Tricep. J. Steele (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. T. Austin (1B) Sixty Day IL - Knee. S. Miller (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Arizona Diamondbacks:  M. Soroka (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Arm. K. Marte (2B) Ten Day IL - Knee. R. Thompson (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Back. Z. Gallen (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. L. Gurriel Jr. (LF) Ten Day IL - Adductor. T. Troy (LF) Ten Day IL - Shoulder. R. Nelson (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. B. Walston (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Mena (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. C. Burnes (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. A. Puk (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. A. Saalfrank (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.

“I thought Carson called a hell of a game. Being able to recognize them with two strikes, maybe looking for something soft, we blew some fastballs right by guys. It’s always nice when you have good enough command where you can throw that pitch a lot, and I kind of knew early on it was going to be there.” - Kevin Gausman after their win against the Diamondbacks in their game on Monday.

“There’s definitely a strategy to getting him back on the field, get him healthy, continue to get that build-up. If it’s possible to get him ready for Philly, we would definitely take the at-bats.” - Torey Lovullo on the injury to Ketel Marte.

Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF

Seiya Suzuki (R) RF

Michael Busch (L) 1B

Alex Bregman (R) 3B

Ian Happ (S) LF

Nico Hoerner (R) SS

Pedro Ramírez (S) 2B

Michael Conforto (L) DH

Carson Kelly (R) C

Lars Nootbaar (L) DH

Corbin Carroll (L) RF

Gabriel Moreno (R) C

Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS

Max Kepler (L) LF

Nolan Arenado (R) 3B

Tim Tawa (R) 1B

Ildemaro Vargas (S) 2B

Ryan Waldschmidt (R) CF

Batting Average:  Gabriel Arias (.500)

Hits:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (140)

Home Runs:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (33)

RBI:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (83)

Stolen Bases:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (32)

Wins:  Colin Rea (8)

Saves:  Jacob Webb (9)

ERA:  Ty Blach (0.00)

Batting Average:  Gabriel Moreno (.303)

Hits:  Corbin Carroll (120)

Home Runs:  Ketel Marte (21)

RBI:  Ketel Marte (67)

Stolen Bases:  Corbin Carroll (20)

Wins:  Eduardo Rodriguez (13)

Saves:  Paul Sewald (24)

ERA:  Justin Martinez (0.00)

Managers:

Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell (3rd season)

Arizona Diamondbacks: Torey Lovullo (10th season)