The Arizona Diamondbacks are set to square off against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field this afternoon, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:20 PM ET. Leading the charge for the Diamondbacks on the mound will be Ryne Nelson, who carries a 6-6 record and a 4.99 ERA into this matchup. Despite an overall WHIP of 1.42 and a batting average against of .296, Nelson has been notably resilient, making six consecutive starts without conceding more than three earned runs.
Opposing Nelson on the mound for the Cubs is Justin Steele, who has been a steadfast presence in Chicago’s rotation this season. Steele boasts a 2-3 record with a commendable 2.71 ERA over 14 starts. His consistent form includes eight quality starts, and in his most recent outing, he delivered a brilliant seven scoreless innings. Steele has slightly better statistics on the road with a 2.96 ERA compared to his 3.16 ERA at home.
Diamondbacks on a Roll
The Diamondbacks come into this game with a slight edge, listed as money line favorites at -106. Arizona has been on an impressive run, holding a 4-1 record over their last five away games. Their recent resilience away from home includes two consecutive road victories. Offensively, the Diamondbacks have demonstrated their firepower, averaging five runs per game, which stands as the second-best mark in MLB.
The team’s big hitters have also been in fine form. Christian Walker has launched 22 homers this season, while Ketel Marte has added 19. However, the Diamondbacks will be looking to bounce back from a narrow 8-7 loss to the Blue Jays, a game in which they led by seven runs at one point.
Cubs Fighting for Ground
The Cubs, sitting at 47-51, are currently fifth in the NL Central, trailing the division-leading Brewers by 8.5 games. Despite their overall challenging season, the Cubs have been on a recent upswing, winning seven of their last ten games. At home, they have been particularly strong, with a 4-1 record in their last five games at Wrigley Field and a solid 9-5 record as home underdogs this year.
In their last outing, Jameson Taillon pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs in an 8-3 victory over the Cardinals. Offensively, the Cubs average 4.2 runs per game with a team batting average of .235. Nico Hoerner has been a standout performer, hitting .378 over his last nine games, while Christopher Morel has contributed three homers in his last eight games.
High-Scoring Anticipation
The over/under line for today’s game is set at 7.5 runs, a mark that both teams have frequently surpassed this season. A remarkable 84.5% of Diamondbacks games exceed the 7.5 run line, and they hold a 6-4 record when the over/under is set at 7.5. Similarly, 67.3% of Cubs games top the 7.5 run line, with the Cubs maintaining a 12-10 record in such scenarios.
Both teams are currently riding three-game over streaks, which suggests today’s encounter could be another high-scoring affair. Justin Steele is projected to notch six strikeouts, while Ryne Nelson is expected to rack up four. The prediction favors a narrow Diamondbacks victory, with a final scoreline of 5-4.
As the Diamondbacks strive to close the gap in the NL West, where they trail the Dodgers by seven games, today’s matchup represents a crucial opportunity to build on their recent momentum. For the Cubs, each game holds significant weight as they seek to climb the standings in the NL Central.
Baseball fans can expect a thrilling contest at Wrigley Field, with both teams bringing strong recent form and plenty of firepower to the diamond.