The Phillies and Diamondbacks wrap up a three-game set in Phoenix on Thursday afternoon. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Phillies-Diamondbacks prediction and pick.

The pitching matchup will be a story of current great (Zach Wheeler) vs. former ace (Madison Bumgarner). The D'Backs are looking to complete the sweep versus a reeling Phillies team that has dropped to 3 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East. The Diamondbacks are all but done at this point in this season, but little win streaks here and there are still encouraging from a franchise looking to make a gigantic leap in 2022. The Phillies have a tough series over the weekend in San Diego, so a win here could be huge to give them some momentum headed into their games with the Padres.

Here’s how the bookmakers have set the Phillies-Diamondbacks odds and lines for Thursday's game.

MLB Odds: Phillies-Diamondbacks Odds

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Philadelphia Phillies -187

Arizona Diamondbacks +172

Over 8  runs (-119)

Under 8 runs (-101)

Why The Phillies Could Win The Game

Zach Wheeler has been one of baseball's best pitchers all season. Despite a few outings lately allowing four runs in three separate contests, Wheeler still has posted a very respectable 3.40 ERA since the All-Star break. The last time he pitched out west was on June 16 against a very talented Dodgers lineup. All Wheeler did was throw six shutout innings, allowing five hits, walking four batters, and striking out six.

Perhaps his best start of the season happened earlier this month when he tossed a two-hit complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts against the Mets. Given that the D'Backs are similar to the Mets in that they also struggle at the plate, this could be a huge opportunity for Wheeler to add to his NL Cy Young resume. If he hopes to win the award, throwing six or seven shutout innings against the D'Backs will do him well.

As for the Phillies team as a whole, they are too good of a team to get swept in Arizona. I'm not saying the Phillies are elite, but compared to the Diamondbacks, the Phillies are a far better baseball team. Wheeler is one of the best pitchers to throw on the hill for the Phillies to salvage something positive from this series. He currently is the betting favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award as well.

Why The Diamondbacks Could Win The Game

Despite being 41 games under .500, the Diamondbacks are in the midst of one of their best stretches of the 2021 season. They've won five of their past six contests, including taking three of four from the Padres, and winning the first two games of this series against Philadelphia. If Arizona wants to complete the sweep today, they have a pitcher they can count on. Madison Bumgarner has lost the luster that made him one of the greatest pitchers in San Francisco Giants history, but he still remains one of the better arms in Arizona's rotation. He's also pitching his best baseball of the season since the All-Star break. In six starts since July 16, Bumgarner has posted a 2.09 ERA with 26 strikeouts, in 38 2/3 innings pitched. The D'Backs have gone 4-2 in those six games.

Over this last three starts, which included a game against the Giants and two games against the Padres, MadBum has thrown 20.2 innings, good for a 2.18 ERA in that span. The Giants and Padres are two of MLB's best offenses, so the fact that Bumgarner shut those lineups down is tangible proof that he's regaining his dominant form from his days in San Francisco.

Arizona is red hot now, and with the Phillies offense struggling lately, the D'Backs have a great opportunity to complete the sweep and maybe even crawl out of last place in the NL by the end of the season.

Final Phillies-Diamondbacks Prediction & Pick

Although I'm tempted to back the under here given that two premier pitchers are on the hill, getting plus money on the Diamondbacks is too good of a bet to pass up. A week ago this would have been crazy to say, but the D'Backs are playing far better baseball than the Phillies lately. Wheeler has an edge over Bumgarner, but against a struggling offense, I say Bumgarner gives us a throwback performance and pitches at least six innings, allowing no more than one run.

The D'Backs mini winning streak continues, while the Phillies fall farther away from regaining the NL East lead.

FINAL Phillies-Diamondbacks PICK: Diamondbacks MONEYLINE (+172)