Arizona, Chicago Set to Renew Rivalry at Wrigley Field

Arizona, Chicago Set to Renew Rivalry at Wrigley Field

Teams that found their stride toward the end of the first half of the season meet up this Friday, as the Arizona Diamondbacks face off against the Chicago Cubs in a highly-anticipated three-game series at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Both clubs are eager to carry their momentum into the second half, setting the stage for what promises to be a series rich in competitive spirit and crucial implications.

Diamondbacks Heading In Strong

The Arizona Diamondbacks boast a 49-48 record, which positions them second in the National League West. They secured this standing by winning eight of their last 12 games leading up to the All-Star break. A key player driving this success is second baseman Ketel Marte. Marte is batting an impressive .292 with 19 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 57 RBI, and 64 runs scored. His performance has been vital, including a standout 3-for-5 effort with a homer and four RBI in an 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays just before the break.

Marte has shown consistent success against the Cubs throughout his career. In 30 games against Chicago, Marte is batting .278 with five doubles, one triple, five homers, and 14 RBI. He appeared in five multi-hit games out of the last nine leading into the All-Star Game, underscoring his reliability at the plate.

Equally instrumental is left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who has registered hits in nine of his past 10 games. Gurriel delivered a noteworthy performance on July 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Over 12 career games against the Cubs, he has accumulated two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI.

On the mound for the series opener will be Ryne Nelson. Nelson holds a 6-6 record with a 4.98 ERA and will be relied upon to keep Arizona competitive against a rebuilding Cubs team that hasn't been performing to expectations.

Cubs Look to Continue Their Resurgence

The Chicago Cubs enter the series with a 47-51 record, currently standing fifth in the NL Central, and 3.5 games out of the Wild Card. The Cubs, however, have demonstrated resilience by winning eight of their last 11 games, showing they have the form and grit to mount a challenge.

Justin Steele will be entrusted with pitching duties for Chicago in the series opener. Steele, who has a record of 2-3 and a solid 2.71 ERA, is coming off back-to-back wins. His latest outing was particularly noteworthy: a seven-inning performance in which he allowed just three hits while striking out four in an 8-0 victory against Baltimore on July 18. Across 14 starts this season, Steele has pitched 86.1 innings, yielding 64 hits, 26 earned runs, 18 walks, and striking out 81.

Among the Cubs' offensive contributors, first baseman Michael Busch has been a standout. Busch went 3-for-5 with a double in a narrow 5-4 loss in Game 2 of a doubleheader against St. Louis last Saturday. He continued to be a driving force shortly after, going 8-for-15 (.533) with three doubles, one homer, and four RBI during a three-game sweep at Baltimore. This season, Busch is batting .271 with 19 doubles, one triple, 12 homers, 36 RBI, and 46 runs scored over 91 games.

Historical Context

The Diamondbacks hold the edge historically in their matchups against the Cubs, leading the all-time series 98-85. However, the Cubs maintain a slight advantage in games played at their home ground, with a 46-43 record at Wrigley Field.

As these teams prepare to renew their rivalry, the stakes are high, and both clubs are looking to make a strong push as the season progresses. The first pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET, and with Arizona as a –119 favorite on the money line and an over/under set at 7.5 runs, fans can anticipate a keenly contested opening game to this three-game series.