Teams that finished the first half of the season on a high note are set to clash in a pivotal three-game series at Wrigley Field. On Friday, the Arizona Diamondbacks face off against the Chicago Cubs, hoping to continue their upward trajectory.
Arizona Diamondbacks arrive in Chicago with a 49-48 record, positioning them second in the National League West. Aided by winning eight of their last 12 games leading up to the All-Star break, the Diamondbacks are poised to challenge their opponents. Leading the charge for Arizona is second baseman Ketel Marte, who is batting a solid .292. Marte's contributions include 19 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 57 RBI, and 64 runs scored. His recent performance, highlighted by a 3-for-5 effort with a homer and four RBI in an 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, underscores his importance to the team.
Marte's performance against the Cubs is also noteworthy. In 30 career games against Chicago, he maintains a .278 batting average with five doubles, one triple, five home runs, and 14 RBI. Heading into the All-Star break, Marte had five multi-hit games in his last nine appearances, showing his consistency. Complementing Marte's efforts is left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who boasts hits in nine of his past 10 games. Gurriel's highlights include a 2-for-5 performance with a double, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored on July 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In his 12 career games against the Cubs, Gurriel has accumulated two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI.
Pitching Duel
The series opener will feature Ryne Nelson on the mound for the Diamondbacks. Nelson's season record stands at 6-6 with a 4.98 ERA. Although his performance has had its ups and downs, the Diamondbacks hope he can hold steady against a resurgent Cubs lineup.
Meanwhile, the Cubs, with a 47-51 record, sit fifth in the NL Central and are 3.5 games out of the Wild Card. The Cubs have tightened their game, winning eight of their last 11 outings. Their recent form and grit have been crucial, as demonstrated by taking two out of three games in their previous meetings against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix.
Pitching for Chicago in the opener is Justin Steele, who has emerged as a reliable arm for the Cubs. Steele's record of 2-3 with a 2.71 ERA is bolstered by wins in his last two starts. His most recent outing was particularly impressive, where he pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits and striking out four in an 8-0 victory against Baltimore on July 18. Steele has been consistent over 14 starts this season, pitching a total of 86.1 innings, allowing 64 hits, 26 earned runs, 18 walks, and striking out 81.
Notable Performances
First baseman Michael Busch has also been a standout for the Cubs. He went 3-for-5 with a double in a recent 5-4 loss to St. Louis. Over a three-game sweep at Baltimore, Busch was 8-for-15 (.533) 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
Historically, the Diamondbacks lead the all-time series against the Cubs with a 98-85 record. However, games played at Wrigley Field tilt slightly in favor of the Cubs, who hold a 46-43 advantage. As both teams aim to solidify their standings, this series promises to be tightly contested.
The first pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET, with the Diamondbacks favored at –119 on the money line, and Vegas setting the over/under at 7.5 runs. Fans can expect a thrilling series opener as these two competitive teams look to build on their recent successes.