Arizona Diamonds: Stepping Into Wrigley
Two teams riding high off strong finishes to the first half of the season collide on Friday as the Arizona Diamondbacks clash with the Chicago Cubs in a highly anticipated three-game series. While both teams have momentum, each is eager to improve their standings, and Wrigley Field will serve as the battleground for this thrilling showdown.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, currently holding a 49-48 record, are comfortably positioned in second within the National League West. This recent surge has been marked by their impressive eight wins in the last 12 games leading up to the All-Star break. Spearheading this charge is their standout second baseman Ketel Marte, who is showcasing a stellar season batting .292. Marte also boasts 19 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 64 runs scored. His pre-All-Star break form included a 3-for-5 performance with a homer and four RBIs in a nail-biting 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Marte’s track record against the Cubs also speaks volumes. Across 30 career games versus Chicago, he's notched a .278 average along with five doubles, one triple, five home runs, and 14 RBIs. Consistency has been his forte, as evidenced by his five multi-hit games in the nine just before the All-Star Game. Adding heft to the Diamondbacks’ batting line-up is left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who has hits in nine of his past 10 games. Gurriel's offensive contributions were especially notable on July 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he went 2-for-5, hitting a double and a home run, driving in three runs, and scoring twice.
Gurriel’s encounters with the Cubs, though fewer in number, have also been promising. In just 12 career games against Chicago, he has racked up two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBIs. As the Diamondbacks look to extend their winning ways, they will rely on Ryne Nelson to set the tone from the mound. Nelson comes into the opener with a 6-6 record and a 4.98 ERA.
Chicago Cubs: Fighting to Climb
On the other side, the Chicago Cubs, with a 47-51 record and currently fifth in the NL Central, are eyeing a push towards the Wild Card, sitting just 3.5 games back. Their recent form suggests they have the mettle for the fight, having won eight of their last 11 games. The Cubs have already shown their capability against the Diamondbacks, taking two out of three from their earlier meetings in Phoenix.
Leading the Cubs' charge from the pitcher’s mound will be Justin Steele. With a 2-3 record and a 2.71 ERA, Steele has been a reliable presence. His most recent outings have been particularly noteworthy, winning his last two starts. In a dominant display against Baltimore on July 18, Steele pitched seven innings, allowing only three hits while striking out four, leading his team to an 8-0 victory.
Over the course of 14 starts this season, Steele has logged 86.1 innings, permitted 64 hits, 26 earned runs, 18 walks, and struck out 81. Complementing Steele’s efforts on offense, first baseman Michael Busch has also been in fine form. During a doubleheader against St. Louis, Busch went 3-for-5 with a double, even though the Cubs fell 5-4 in Game 2. His series against Baltimore was even more impressive, with Busch going 8-for-15 (.533) including three doubles, one home run, and four RBIs in a three-game sweep.
For the season, Busch is posting respectable numbers, batting .271 with 19 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 46 runs scored across 91 games. These individual performances will need to sync up for the Cubs to gain an edge over a tough Diamondbacks squad.
Historical Context and Odds
Historically, the Diamondbacks have had the upper hand in their match-ups against the Cubs, leading the all-time series 98-85. However, when the games are held at Wrigley Field, the Cubs hold a slight advantage with a 46-43 record. This adds another layer of intrigue as the Diamondbacks are slight favorites with a –119 on the money line, and Vegas has set the over/under at 7.5 runs for this series opener.
With so much on the line, this series promises to be a captivating contest of skill and strategy as both teams strive to continue their upswing and solidify their positions for the season ahead. The first pitch will be thrown at 2:20 p.m. ET, and all eyes will be closely watching to see which team takes the early advantage in this pivotal series.