Teams that finished the first half of the season on a bit of a roll clash on Friday as the Arizona Diamondbacks face off against the Chicago Cubs in a three-game series at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Both squads are coming off strong performances leading into the All-Star break, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting showdown.
Diamondbacks on the Upswing
The Diamondbacks enter the series with a 49-48 record, positioning themselves second in the National League West. Arizona has been particularly impressive in recent weeks, winning eight of their last 12 games before the break. One of the standout performers has been second baseman Ketel Marte, who is batting .292 for the season. Marte's robust statistics include 19 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 57 RBI, and 64 runs scored.
Marte had a notable game just before the break, going 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in an 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. His success against the Cubs has been consistent throughout his career, as he is batting .278 with five doubles, one triple, five homers, and 14 RBI in 30 career games against Chicago. Additionally, Marte managed five multi-hit games out of the last nine leading up to the All-Star Game.
Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has also been in great form, registering hits in nine of his past 10 games. Notably, Gurriel had a 2-for-5 performance, featuring a double, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored on July 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His track record against the Cubs includes two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI in 12 career games.
Starting on the mound for Arizona in the series opener will be Ryne Nelson, who holds a 6-6 record with a 4.98 ERA. Nelson will be aiming to keep the Diamondbacks' momentum going as they look to make a push for the postseason.
Cubs Aim to Close the Gap
The Cubs, currently fifth in the NL Central with a 47-51 record, are 3.5 games out of the Wild Card. Like the Diamondbacks, the Cubs have been in strong recent form, winning eight of their last 11 games. They also have the upper hand in this season's earlier meetings, having taken two out of three games against Arizona in Phoenix.
Pitching for Chicago in the series opener will be Justin Steele, who boasts a 2-3 record and an outstanding 2.71 ERA. Steele has been particularly dominant in his last two starts, both of which were wins. His most recent outing was a stellar seven-inning performance where he allowed just three hits while striking out four in an 8-0 victory against Baltimore on July 18. Over 14 starts this season, Steele has pitched 86.1 innings, conceded 64 hits, 26 earned runs, walked 18, and struck out 81.
First baseman Michael Busch has also contributed significantly to the Cubs' offense. Busch went 3-for-5 with a double in a 5-4 loss in Game 2 of a doubleheader against St. Louis last Saturday. Over a recent three-game sweep at Baltimore, Busch was a standout performer, going 8-for-15 with three doubles, one homer, and four RBI. This season, Busch is batting .271 with 19 doubles, one triple, 12 homers, 36 RBI, and 46 runs scored over 91 games.
Historical Context and Series Outlook
The all-time series between the Diamondbacks and Cubs is closely contested, with Arizona holding a narrow 98-85 lead. However, the Cubs have a slight edge when playing at Wrigley Field, posting a 46-43 record.
The first pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET, with Arizona being a –119 favorite on the money line and an over/under set at 7.5 runs by Vegas. As both teams look to build on their pre-All-Star break momentum, the series opener promises to be a closely fought contest filled with impactful performances by key players from both sides.