On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Diamondbacks series preview

Didn’t we just do this? Uh... yes, just saw the Diamondbacks last weekend at Wrigley Field, with the Cubs taking two of three. For more on the D-backs via Jim McLennan, manager of our SB Nation D-backs site AZ Snakepit, you can refer back to last week’s series preview.

After Sunday, the Cubs will be done with them for 2019, unless the somewhat unlikely postseason matchup between the two teams happens. At least there’s a bit of variety in the pitching matchups for this series.

I realize how difficult it is to schedule 15-team leagues, but seriously, schedule-makers, you’ve got to do better than this.

From the D-backs standpoint, they just finished sweeping a four-game series from the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Don’t necessarily read too much into that, as the Bucs seem to be Arizona’s favorite team to beat in recent years. This is the second straight year the D-backs have swept a four-game set at PNC Park and overall they’ve won 10 straight games there.

Fun fact

The D-backs are 11-6 on the road so far this year, but just 4-5 at home in Chase Field. Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity for the Cubs to improve on their 5-7 road record.

Pitching matchups

Friday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (1-3, 3.54 ERA, 1.672 WHIP, 4.00 FIP) vs. Robbie Ray, LHP (0-1, 3.95 ERA, 1.244 WHIP, 3.73 FIP)

Saturday: Yu Darvish, RHP (1-3, 5.96 ERA, 1.721 WHIP, 7.00 FIP) vs. Zack Godley, RHP (1-1, 6.67 ERA, 1.593 WHIP, 5.19 FIP)

Sunday: Jose Quintana, LHP (3-1, 3.21 ERA, 1.286 WHIP, 2.90 FIP) vs. Luke Weaver, RHP (2-1, 3.33 ERA, 1.185 WHIP, 2.56 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Friday: 8:40 p.m. CT, NBC Sports Chicago Plus

Saturday: 7:10 p.m. CT, ABC7 Chicago

Sunday: 3:10 p.m. CT, WGN

Prediction

The pitching matchups once again seem favorable. The Cubs will wrap the season series against Arizona by once again taking two of three.

Up next

The Cubs have Monday off, then begin a two-game series against the Mariners in Seattle Tuesday evening.