Teams that finished the first half of the season strong will collide on Friday as the Arizona Diamondbacks face off with the Chicago Cubs in a three-game series at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Both teams carry a surge of momentum as they seek to solidify their positions in the postseason race.
Diamondbacks' Surge
The Arizona Diamondbacks are sitting second in the National League West with a record of 49-48. The team managed to win eight out of their last twelve games leading up to the All-Star break, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure. A significant contributor to this success has been the performance of second baseman Ketel Marte. Marte is currently batting .292, with 19 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 57 RBI, and 64 runs scored. His standout performance came just before the break with a 3-for-5 effort, including a homer and four RBI, in an 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Marte has also exhibited a consistent ability to perform against the Cubs. In 30 career games against Chicago, he boasts a .278 batting average, with five doubles, one triple, five homers, and 14 RBI. Notably, he recorded five multi-hit games out of the last nine leading up to the All-Star Game, underscoring his readiness to face the Cubs' pitching.
Another player to watch is left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who has hit safely in nine of his past ten games. His performance on July 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers was particularly impressive, as he went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Over 12 career games against the Cubs, Gurriel Jr. has two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI.
Arizona will hand the ball to Ryne Nelson for the series opener. Nelson, who carries a 6-6 record with a 4.98 ERA, will look to provide a strong start to help his team pick up an important win on the road.
Cubs' Resilience
The Chicago Cubs enter the series with a 47-51 record, placing them fifth in the NL Central, and are 3.5 games out of the Wild Card spot. Bolstered by winning eight of their last eleven games, the Cubs are demonstrating the form and grit necessary for a late-season push. In their previous meetings in Phoenix, the Cubs took two out of three games against the Diamondbacks, showing they are more than capable of competing with Arizona.
Chicago will rely on the arm of Justin Steele for the opener. Steele, who has a 2-3 record with a sterling 2.71 ERA, will look to continue his impressive form. His last two starts were victories, including a dominant performance against the Baltimore Orioles on July 18, where he pitched seven innings, allowing only three hits while striking out four in an 8-0 win. Over 14 starts this season, Steele has pitched 86.1 innings, allowing 64 hits, 26 earned runs, 18 walks, and striking out 81.
First baseman Michael Busch has also been an offensive catalyst for the Cubs, recently going 3-for-5 with a double in a 5-4 loss in the second game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals. Busch's torrid stretch included an 8-for-15 performance with three doubles, a homer, and four RBI during a three-game sweep at Baltimore. This season, Busch is batting .271, with 19 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 36 RBI, and 46 runs scored over 91 games.
Anticipating a Competitive Series
Historically, the Diamondbacks lead the all-time series against the Cubs with a 98-85 record, though the Cubs hold a 46-43 advantage in games at Wrigley Field. As both teams look to build on their recent successes, fans can expect a tightly contested series. The first pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET on Friday, with Arizona entering as a slight favorite on the money line at –119, and the over/under set at 7.5 runs.
With both teams displaying recent surges and possessing key players in fine form, this series promises to offer crucial games that could shape the postseason aspirations for both the Diamondbacks and the Cubs.