Diamondbacks and Cubs Brace for Crucial Series at Wrigley Field
As both teams ride a wave of momentum from a strong end to the first half of the season, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs are set to clash in a three-game series starting Friday at the iconic Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The Diamondbacks, sitting at 49-48 and second in the National League West, have displayed commendable form, winning eight of their last 12 games before the All-Star break. Key to their resurgence has been the consistent performance of second baseman Ketel Marte. Batting .292, Marte’s stats are nothing short of impressive with 19 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 64 runs scored. Notably, Marte had a standout game just before the break, going 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI in a narrow 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Marte’s leadership will be pivotal as the Diamondbacks face the Cubs, especially considering his history against Chicago. In 30 career games against the Cubs, he maintains a solid .278 batting average with five doubles, one triple, five home runs, and 14 RBI. Additionally, Marte showcased his form leading up to the All-Star Game with five multi-hit games in his last nine outings.
Another key performer for Arizona has been left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who has hits in nine of his past 10 games. Gurriel's contributions were particularly notable on July 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Over his career against the Cubs, Gurriel has managed two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBIs in 12 games.
Pitching for Arizona in the series opener will be Ryne Nelson, who is currently 6-6 with a 4.98 ERA. His performance will be crucial as the Diamondbacks aim to build on their current form and close the gap in their division.
On the other side, the Cubs enter the series with a 47-51 record, currently laying fifth in the NL Central and just 3.5 games out of the Wild Card. They have demonstrated significant resilience and consistency, winning eight of their last 11 games. This resurgence included taking two out of three games in an earlier series against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix.
Justin Steele will take the mound for Chicago. With a 2-3 record and a 2.71 ERA, Steele is coming off two consecutive wins. His latest start was particularly impressive, pitching seven innings and allowing just three hits while striking out four in an 8-0 victory over Baltimore on July 18. Across 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 integral to the Cubs' recent form. He recently had a 3-for-5 outing with a double in a narrow 5-4 loss in Game 2 of a doubleheader against St. Louis. Busch's record in a three-game sweep at Baltimore was even more notable as he went 8-for-15 (.533) with three doubles, one homer, and four RBI. This season, Busch is batting .271 with 19 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 36 RBI, and 46 runs scored over 91 games.
The historical data also adds an intriguing layer to this contest. Arizona leads the all-time series against Chicago with a 98-85 record. However, when it comes to games played at Wrigley Field, the Cubs hold a 46-43 advantage.
As the teams prepare for the first pitch at 2:20 p.m. ET on Friday, the Diamondbacks enter as a -119 favorite, with the over/under set at 7.5 runs. Both teams are determined to leverage their recent momentum and stage a thrilling contest as they vie for crucial wins in their respective divisional races.