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.
Diamondbacks Riding High
The Arizona Diamondbacks, with a record of 49-48, find themselves second in the highly competitive National League West division. They come into this match-up with the momentum of winning eight of their last twelve games before the All-Star break. Their performance has generated considerable buzz among supporters, eager to see if their team can sustain this robust form in the second half of the season.
Key to the Diamondbacks' recent success has been second baseman Ketel Marte. Marte is batting an impressive .292 for the season, with 19 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 57 RBI, and 64 runs scored. Highlighting his form, Marte delivered a standout performance just before the break, going 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI, although the team narrowly lost 8-7 to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Further underlining his value, Marte has shown consistency against Friday's opponents. In 30 career games against the Cubs, he is batting .278 with five doubles, one triple, five home runs, and 14 RBI. He also managed five multi-hit games out of the last nine leading up to the All-Star Game, indicating his steady form.
Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. adds to the Diamondbacks' batting strength, having recorded hits in nine of his past ten games. On July 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gurriel Jr. went 2-for-5, including a double, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. He holds a solid record in his encounters with the Cubs, boasting two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI in 12 career games.
Cubs Seeking Playoff Push
The Chicago Cubs, currently fifth in the NL Central with a 47-51 record, are still within striking distance of a Wild Card spot, sitting just 3.5 games out. They've shown form and resilience by winning eight of their last eleven games, including taking two out of three matches against the Diamondbacks in an earlier meeting in Phoenix.
Pitching in the series opener for Chicago will be Justin Steele, who has a commendable 2-3 record accompanied by a stellar 2.71 ERA. Steele comes off two consecutive wins, demonstrating his capability to handle pressure situations. His most recent outing was particularly impressive, pitching seven innings while allowing just three hits and striking out four in an 8-0 victory against Baltimore on July 18. Over his 14 starts this season, Steele has pitched 86.1 innings, allowed 64 hits, 26 earned runs, 18 walks, and struck out 81, showcasing his reliability on the mound.
First baseman Michael Busch has also provided a spark for the Cubs' offense, especially noteworthy during a recent three-game sweep at Baltimore where he went 8-for-15 (.533) with three doubles, one home run, and four RBI. This season, Busch is batting .271 and has accumulated 19 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 36 RBI, and 46 runs scored over 91 games.
Looking at Historical Context
Historically, the match-up between these teams has seen the Diamondbacks holding the edge, leading the all-time series 98-85. However, playing at Wrigley Field, the Cubs have a slight advantage, winning 46 of 89 games. This gives the Cubs a home field confidence boost as they aim to close the gap on the Diamondbacks and make a significant push towards the playoffs.
Pitching for Arizona in this eagerly anticipated series opener will be Ryne Nelson, who holds a 6-6 record with a 4.98 ERA. The Diamondbacks have been solid favorites, marked at –119 on the money line, while the over/under for this opening game is set at 7.5 runs, indicating a potential for a tightly contested game.
First pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET, and fans are eager to see if the Diamondbacks can maintain their post-All-Star break surge or if the Cubs can leverage their home advantage to kickstart their own season revival. With both teams showing strong form, this series promises to provide an exciting contest for baseball enthusiasts.