The Diamondbacks and Cubs are set to clash this afternoon at the iconic Wrigley Field in Chicago, with a 2:20 PM ET start time. This matchup features two teams on different trajectories this season, with the Diamondbacks aiming to solidify their standing in the NL West and the Cubs seeking to turn around their fortunes.
Pitching Matchups
On the mound for the Cubs is Justin Steele, who has had a mixed season with a 2-3 record and a 2.71 ERA. Despite the record, Steele has delivered consistently strong performances, including eight quality starts. In his most recent outing, Steele showcased his prowess with seven scoreless innings, a performance Cubs fans hope he can replicate. His home ERA stands at 3.16, slightly higher than his road ERA of 2.96, but still respectable.
Opposing Steele will be Ryne Nelson for the Diamondbacks. Nelson comes into this game with a 6-6 record and a 4.99 ERA. Though his numbers don’t leap off the stats page, Nelson has shown resilience, making six straight starts without surrendering more than three earned runs. However, his WHIP of 1.42 and batting average against of .296 indicate that he might face challenges against the Cubs' lineup. Projected to record four strikeouts in today's game, Nelson will look to contain a Cubs offense that has shown signs of life recently.
Team Performances
The Diamondbacks are entering this game as slight money line favorites at -106. With an overall record of 49-48, Arizona currently sits second in the NL West, trailing the dominant Dodgers by seven games. Encouragingly for Diamondbacks supporters, the team has been strong on the road with a 4-1 record in their last five away games. Their overall run line record mimics their regular record at 49-48, underscoring a consistent form. Arizona is also averaging five runs per game, the second-best mark in MLB, which bodes well against a Cubs team that has struggled at times.
Christian Walker and Ketel Marte continue to be crucial for the Diamondbacks, with 22 and 19 homers respectively. However, they are coming off a disappointing 8-7 loss to the Blue Jays, a game in which they led by seven runs, suggesting possible vulnerabilities in closing out games.
Rebounding Cubs
The Cubs, with a 47-51 record, are positioned fifth in the NL Central, 8.5 games behind the Brewers. However, their recent form has been promising, winning seven of their last ten games and holding a 4-1 record in their last five home games. Additionally, their home underdog record stands at a respectable 9-5 this year. This indicates they are not a team that can be easily written off.
Nico Hoerner has been a standout performer for the Cubs, hitting .378 over his last nine games. Additionally, Christopher Morel, with three homers in his last eight games, adds much-needed firepower to the lineup. Overall, the Cubs average 4.2 runs per game and maintain a batting average of .235. With Jameson Taillon recently offering a solid outing of 5 2/3 innings allowing three earned runs in an 8-3 victory over the Cardinals, the Cubs are hopeful of continuing this momentum.
Game Predictions
As the game approaches, the over/under line is set at 7.5 runs, with both teams riding three-game over streaks. Notably, 84.5% of Diamondbacks games have surpassed this mark, suggesting that we might see a high-scoring affair. The Diamondbacks are projected to have a 5-4 victory, building on their offensive strength and slightly superior statistical edge over the Cubs. Justin Steele is anticipated to have six strikeouts, potentially outshining Ryne Nelson's projected four. This small margin could be the deciding factor in a closely contested game.
As the Diamondbacks aim to keep pace in the NL West and the Cubs seek to continue their resurgence, today's game promises to be a captivating contest at Wrigley Field, reflective of MLB's unpredictable and exciting nature.