José Cabrera Gets Arizona’s Strangest Assignment

Arizona is priced at -111 at Bookmaker Sportsbook, while San Francisco is at -102, with the total at 8. The pick is Diamondbacks -111.

This is the opener of a four-game series at Oracle Park. Arizona arrives after taking two of three from the Cubs, including Wednesday’s 2-0 win. San Francisco took two of three from Cincinnati, but its chance at a sweep ended with seven Reds runs in the ninth inning Wednesday.

José Cabrera starts for Arizona. Six days ago, pitching for Triple-A Reno, he allowed nine hits, eight earned runs, and three home runs in 3⅔ innings. Now he gets a major-league game with September breathing down Arizona’s neck.

Eight Runs in Reno, Then This?

José Cabrera hasn’t pitched in the majors since July 8. Arizona optioned him the following day after four starts produced a 5.60 ERA and 1.53 WHIP.

His Triple-A return has hardly followed a straight line. Cabrera threw five innings of one-hit ball on August 2, then allowed 15 earned runs across his next three starts.

That makes Thursday less about his 0-2 major-league record than how quickly Arizona reacts if the command isn’t there.

Wednesday helped. Eduardo Rodriguez gave the Diamondbacks seven scoreless innings against Chicago, leaving only two innings for the bullpen. Arizona begins this series with far more flexibility than San Francisco after the Giants’ bullpen turned a six-run ninth-inning lead into a 10-9 loss.

Roupp Keeps Meeting This Lineup

Landen Roupp’s last meeting with Arizona lasted four innings. He walked six.

That June 30 game became an 8-2 Diamondbacks win, and Arizona has won eight of nine meetings with San Francisco this season. Roupp enters Thursday 7-13 with a 4.34 ERA and 64 walks in 134⅔ innings.

Arizona will be without Ketel Marte, who remains on the IL with knee inflammation and is targeting an August 31 return. Yet the Diamondbacks just won a series against a Cubs team holding the NL’s top Wild Card position. Rookie Ryan Waldschmidt supplied Tuesday’s walk-off homer; Jordan Lawlar homered Wednesday.

The MLB Betting Hub and MLB Playoffs Betting Guide provide the broader postseason picture. Here, the immediate equation is unusually simple: Arizona has to survive Cabrera’s innings without allowing Roupp to turn the game into a race between bullpens.

How Cheap Is the Better Problem?

Diamondbacks -111.

José Cabrera is the obvious risk, particularly after his last Reno start. At virtually an even price, Arizona also brings the better team, the rested bullpen, and a lineup that has already made Roupp’s command hurt once this summer.

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