Teams displaying late-season momentum meet on Friday as the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Chicago Cubs in a three-game series at Wrigley Field. Both squads entered the All-Star break on a high, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Fighting for Position
The Arizona Diamondbacks, with a record of 49-48, hold second place in the National League West. This comes after a strong finish to the first half of the season, where they won eight of their last 12 games. Key to their success has been the performance of second baseman Ketel Marte, who is batting .292 with 19 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 57 RBI, and 64 runs scored. Marte has been particularly effective against the Cubs, batting .278 in 30 career games with five doubles, one triple, five homers, and 14 RBI.
Marte's hot streak includes five multi-hit games out of the last nine heading into the All-Star Game. His standout performance came in an 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays just before the break, where he went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI.
Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. adds depth to Arizona's batting lineup. Gurriel has hits in nine of his past 10 games and had a notable 2-for-5 performance on July 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, including a double, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. In his 12 career games against the Cubs, Gurriel has tallied two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI.
Pitching Matchup: Ryne Nelson vs. Justin Steele
On the mound for Arizona will be Ryne Nelson, who currently holds a 6-6 record with a 4.98 ERA. He will face Chicago's left-handed pitcher Justin Steele. Steele boasts a 2-3 record with a 2.71 ERA and has been on a roll, securing wins in his last two starts. His most recent outing was a masterpiece against Baltimore, where he pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits while striking out four in an 8-0 victory.
Steele has been a reliable presence on the mound over his 14 starts this season, amassing 86.1 innings, allowing 64 hits, 26 earned runs, 18 walks, and striking out 81 batters.
Chicago Cubs: On the Rise
The Chicago Cubs, standing at 47-51, occupy the fifth spot in the NL Central but are just 3.5 games out of the Wild Card race. Winning eight of their last 11 games highlights their recent form and resilience. Earlier in the season, the Cubs took two out of three games against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix, showcasing their potential to compete against top teams.
First baseman Michael Busch has been a catalyst for the Cubs' recent success. In the second game of a doubleheader against St. Louis last Saturday, Busch went 3-for-5 with a double in a tight 5-4 loss. He continued his strong run with an 8-for-15 showing during a three-game sweep at Baltimore, adding three doubles, one homer, and four RBI to his season stats. Over 91 games this season, Busch is batting .271 with 19 doubles, one triple, 12 homers, 36 RBI, and 46 runs scored.
Overall, the Diamondbacks lead the all-time series against the Cubs 98-85. However, the Cubs have a slight edge when playing at Wrigley Field, with a 46-43 advantage. This sets up a fascinating clash as both teams aim to build on their recent momentum and improve their standings.
The first pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET. With Arizona being a -119 favorite on the money line and the over/under set at 7.5 runs, it promises to be an exciting encounter between two teams eager to prove themselves as postseason contenders.