Thursday MLB preview: Diamondbacks at Nationals, Cubs at Dodgers

Arizona Diamondbacks (36-33) at Washington Nationals (31-36), 7:05 p.m. ET

Zack Greinke (7-2, 2.87 ERA) (ARZ) -120 / +1.5 runs (+135) / Over 9 runs (EVEN) Erick Fedde (1-0, 2.93 ERA) (WSH) +110 / -1.5 runs (-160) / Under 9 runs (-120)

MLB free play: Diamondbacks moneyline

Erick Fedde has done a decent job since he joined Washington's rotation, but Arizona ace Zack Greinke holds the edge in this Thursday night matchup.

Fedde's batting average against in four starts this year is .260. He's gone beyond five innings in just one of those four outings. The Nationals' bullpen continues to be a liability, as it is still the worst by ERA this season (6.33).

Greinke has held opponents to a .214 batting average in 14 starts and his WHIP is a strong 0.935. He frequently goes deep into games and has been highly effective when doing so, with a .165 opponent batting average in his third time through the lineup. The Diamondbacks' bullpen has been among the best in baseball in the last two weeks, producing a 3.42 FIP (fifth).

Chicago Cubs (38-29) at Los Angeles Dodgers (45-23), 10:10 p.m. ET

Jon Lester (5-4, 3.56 ERA) (CHC) +150 / +1.5 runs (-135) / Over 8 runs (-115) Clayton Kershaw (5-1, 3.00 ERA) (LAD) -165 / -1.5 runs (+115) / Under 8 runs (-105)

MLB free play: Cubs moneyline first five innings (+170)

Bettors can't get enough of Clayton Kershaw, even though his Dodgers are in a mini-swoon. Jon Lester and the Cubs bring solid value to the table in the first five innings market.

Los Angeles is 2-4 in its last six games and has plated 17 runs in that span. Cody Bellinger has cooled off considerably, with a .182 batting average in June, and the Dodgers just lost shortstop Corey Seager (hamstring) to the IL. Several of the Cubs' best hitters have solid numbers against Kershaw. Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras and Anthony Rizzo are a combined 13-for-36 (.361) with five home runs off the Texas native.

Lester is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in six starts against the Dodgers prior to this season. In his lone start against them at Wrigley Field this year, Lester surrendered four hits and one earned run in five innings. Chicago's bullpen has had a rough week (6.00 ERA the last seven days), so it may be best to avoid the full-time market.