Published Jul 7, 8:59pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jul 7, 8:59pm ET
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Updated Jul 7, 8:59pm ET
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| San Diego Padres | -140 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +127 |
The rookie Jose Cabrera has made 3 big league starts and has been respectable overall. He was not a highly regarded prospect, but the 24-year-old is putting up a good showing. The righty pitched 5 shutout innings in his debut, allowing 3 hits and no runs. His last two starts were not as good, allowing 7 earned runs in 8.1 innings. Overall, he's allowed 16 hits, 7 earned runs, and 3 homers over 13.1 innings, walking 5 and striking out 10.
The D-Backs are hovering around .500 and are well behind the Dodgers in the NL West. But they can still make the playoffs as a Wild Card.
Ketel Marte is having a good comeback season with an OPS over .800 and more than 50 RBI. Corbin Carroll has an OPS above .860 and is in double digits in doubles, triples, and home runs. Nolan Arenado has been passable with an OPS above .700, but his age and decline are obvious. They need offense at the trade deadline.
Against Padres starter Michael King, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is 5 for 19 with a home run. Gabriel Moreno is 2 for 5 with 2 singles. Carroll is 1 for 7 wit ha single. Marte is 2 for 9 with 2 singles. Ildemaro Vargas, who has dropped precipitously since his 2025-26 hitting streak that reached 27 games, is 1 for 5 with a home run.
The Padres have struggled mightily since their 19-9 start when the AJ Preller fanatics again worshipped the false deity. They've fallen below .500 not because of injuries, but because their roster wasn't very good to begin with. They are, however, still in playoff contention despite their shaky record.
Michael King takes the hill against NL West competitor Arizona. King has been San Diego's best starter with a 2.3 bWAR in 18 starts. Over 102.1 frames, he's allowed 78 hits, 40 earned runs and 10 homers, walking 41 and striking out 88.
On offense, Manny Machado is on a 35-home run pace, but is batting below .200. Jackson Merrill continues to stumble with an average below .220. XAnder Bogaerts has been bad since an excellent start, batting around .230. Fernando Tatis has shown some renewed power of late, but is not providing enough offense.
Since Cabrera's big league career is just getting underway, he has not faced any Padres batters in the majors.
The Padres are desperately trying to stem their free fall and salvage their season so Preller can make a series of massive trades at the deadline and get his name mentioned as much as humanly possible.
King has been very good this season and the D-Backs' Cabrera is a rookie, so the Friars have the advantage on the mound. However, San Diego is not very good and Arizona has a more consistent offense.
The D-Backs will win this one behind their rookie starter.
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Pick
Arizona Diamondbacks +127
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