This afternoon, the Arizona Diamondbacks will clash with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, marking another promising matchup in the MLB season. Scheduled for 2:20 PM ET, the Diamondbacks, slight money line favorites at -106, hope to maintain their momentum and solidify their standing in the NL West.
Starting Pitchers in Focus
Justin Steele will take the mound for the Cubs, entering the game with a 2-3 record and a 2.71 ERA across 14 starts this season. Steele has been reliable, posting eight quality starts and delivering seven scoreless innings in his most recent outing. His home ERA stands at 3.16, slightly higher than his road ERA of 2.96. The Cubs will look to Steele to provide stability against a potent Diamondbacks lineup.
Opposing him will be Ryne Nelson of the Diamondbacks. Nelson holds a 6-6 record with a 4.99 ERA and has shown consistency of late, not surrendering more than three earned runs in his last six starts. With a WHIP of 1.42 and a batting average against of .296, Nelson will need to be at his best to outduel Steele.
Team Performance and Key Players
The Diamondbacks, currently holding a 49-48 record, are second in the NL West, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers by seven games. They've been impressive on the road recently, boasting a 4-1 record in their last five away games. The team has also been formidable offensively, averaging five runs per game, the second-best mark in MLB.
Christian Walker and Ketel Marte have been pivotal for Arizona, with Walker smashing 22 homers and Marte contributing 19. However, the Diamondbacks will be coming off a stinging 8-7 loss to the Blue Jays, a game where they squandered a seven-run lead. Despite this setback, they have won two consecutive road games and will be eager to continue this streak at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs, with a 47-51 record, find themselves fifth in the NL Central, 8.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. Recent form has been encouraging for Chicago, as they've gone 7-3 in their last ten games and hold a 4-1 record in their last five home outings. Nico Hoerner has been in scintillating form, hitting .378 over his last nine games, while Christopher Morel has chipped in with three homers in his last eight games.
Statistical Insights
As both teams prepare for today's encounter, several statistical narratives are worth noting. Arizona games average 9.8 runs this season, with the team holding a 52-42 over/under record. Impressively, 84.5% of Diamondbacks games surpass the 7.5 run line, and the team has a 6-4 record when this over/under line is set.
The Cubs, on the other hand, average 4.2 runs per game with a team batting average of .235. Their over/under record stands at 67.3% when the line is set at 7.5, and they hold a 12-10 record in these scenarios. Given that both squads are riding three-game over streaks, today's 7.5 run line seems likely to be challenged.
Justin Steele is projected to strike out six Diamondbacks, while Nelson is expected to manage four strikeouts. The Diamondbacks are forecasted to edge out a narrow victory, 5-4, suggesting a tight contest is on the cards.
Looking Ahead
With both teams aiming to build on recent performances, today's game promises to be an enthralling encounter. While the Cubs will lean heavily on Steele's reliable arm, the Diamondbacks' dynamic offense will be looking to exploit any weaknesses. As the season progresses, every game holds critical importance, and fans at Wrigley Field can expect nothing short of high-quality baseball.