Two division leaders collide in an interleague showdown on Saturday afternoon as the Chicago Cubs face the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Read on for our expert Cubs vs Tigers prediction and pick. First pitch is set for 1:10 PM EST, and both teams come into this matchup sitting atop their divisions.  Betting Preview For Cubs vs Tigers Betting On Chicago Cubs The Cubs are on fire, having won four of their last five, including a dominant 7-1 win over Washington. Pete Crow-Armstrong is emerging as a legit star, and Ian Happ has been a catalyst in the middle of the order. They’ll send James Taillon (5-3, 3.76 ERA) to the mound. He’s logged eight quality starts in 12 appearances, showing excellent control with a 1.01 WHIP and just 13 walks in 69.1 innings. He may be vulnerable to the long ball (16 HRs allowed), but his ability to eat innings is a major plus. Chicago has also won three of Taillon’s last five starts, and they’ll be looking to build on their 5-game lead in the NL Central. Betting On Detroit Tigers Detroit leads the AL Central by six games but just dropped a tight 3-2 contest in extras to the White Sox. The Tigers have been scrappy all season but lack explosive offense, often relying on small-ball and timely hits. They’ll counter with Keider Montero (2-1, 4.02 ERA), who’s still settling into his rotation role. While he hasn’t allowed many home runs, Montero has struggled with efficiency and hasn’t made it past the 5th inning often. He allowed seven hits in 4.2 shutout innings in his last start but needs to limit base traffic with a 1.46 WHIP. Tigers are 4-1 in his last five starts, but his limited innings put pressure on the bullpen. MatchPlug Prediction For Cubs vs Tigers This is a clash between two solid teams, but the pitching matchup clearly favors the Cubs. Taillon’s consistency and ability to pitch deep gives Chicago a major edge over the less-proven Montero.  Our prediction for Saturday’s clash is a narrow Cubs win, powered by Taillon’s steady arm and a clutch offensive performance from the heart of the lineup. Final Prediction: Chicago Cubs ML (-120)

It’s the middle game of a three-game weekend series between National League foes as the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Saturday afternoon. Read on for our expert Diamondbacks vs Reds prediction and betting breakdown. Both teams are eyeing momentum as they continue to hover around .500.  Betting Preview For Diamondbacks vs Reds Betting On Arizona Diamondbacks The Diamondbacks arrive in Cincinnati riding a four-game win streak, punctuated by a stunning comeback against the Braves in which they scored seven runs in the ninth inning to win 11-10. That kind of resilience shows this team’s offensive depth, with Ketel Marte, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Alek Thomas all contributing home runs in that thriller. Despite losing Corbin Burnes to season-ending Tommy John surgery, Arizona’s pitching has held up recently. Ryne Nelson has been excellent in his last three appearances (0.57 ERA) and will take the mound Saturday in search of his third win. Arizona’s offense is dangerous and has scored 31 runs over their last four games. Betting On Cincinnati Reds The Reds have dropped four of their last five and are struggling for consistency, especially on offense. They were held to just four hits in a 9-1 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday and are averaging only 2.6 runs over their last seven games. Nick Martinez gets the nod for Cincinnati and enters with a 3-6 record and a 3.89 ERA. He was hit hard in his last start vs. the Cubs, giving up five earned runs in under five innings. While he’s been generally solid at home, he’ll need a much sharper outing to hold back a surging Arizona lineup. Cincinnati’s bats, especially Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer, need to wake up if the Reds hope to salvage this series. MatchPlug Prediction For Diamondbacks vs Reds Momentum matters in baseball, and right now the Diamondbacks have it. Their lineup is hot, and Ryne Nelson’s current form gives them a pitching edge. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is lacking offense and has been poor at stringing together quality at-bats. Final Prediction: Arizona Diamondbacks ML 

Busch Stadium sets the stage for a Saturday afternoon clash between the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals. Read our preview for the Dodgers vs Cardinals game. First pitch is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ET in what should be a high-intensity matchup featuring two clubs with postseason aspirations. Below is our prediction, betting insights, and sure tips. Betting Preview For Los Angeles Dodgers vs St. Louis Cardinals Betting On Los Angeles Dodgers The Dodgers continue to live up to expectations after last season’s World Series triumph. With a deep lineup and strong rotation, Los Angeles sits atop the NL West, and their offense has consistently delivered. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start, looking to bounce back from a rocky outing against the Yankees. Despite allowing four runs in 3.2 innings last time out, he’s been excellent overall with a 6-4 record and 2.39 ERA, including a 2.06 ERA in six road starts. The Dodgers’ bats are also heating up, with run totals soaring past totals in many recent games (37-26 O/U on the season). No new injuries are reported, and the Dodgers’ full-strength lineup is loaded with power and experience. Betting On St. Louis Cardinals The Cardinals are still in the thick of the NL Central race, but they enter this contest on a lukewarm 5-5 run over their last 10 games. They’ve dropped two of three to the Royals and now face a far more formidable opponent. Erick Fedde starts for the Cardinals, coming in with a 3-5 record and 3.82 ERA on the season. His 5.20 ERA at Busch Stadium in five home starts is a concern, especially against a potent Dodgers lineup. While he managed a solid six-inning, two-run performance against Texas last time out, Fedde’s inconsistency could haunt St. Louis in this spot. Like LA, the Cardinals have no new injuries, but they’ll need their best effort to keep pace. MatchPlug Prediction For Dodgers vs Cardinals Yamamoto’s impressive road splits and the Dodgers’ offensive firepower give them a clear edge, especially against a St. Louis starter who’s struggled at Busch Stadium.  LA has also dominated recent H2H history, winning 6 of the last 10 against the Cardinals. Final Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers ML