On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Diamondbacks series preview

The D-backs took the final game of a three-game series against the Cubs last Sunday at Chase Field, though the Cubs scored two in the ninth of that game and had the tying run in scoring position when Willson Contreras struck out to end it.

Then they swept the Pirates. Seems like a dead-cat bounce to me, the Pirates entered the series 15-30 on the road and Arizona had played slightly better at home than on the road coming into that series.

For more on the D-backs you can check the series preview from last weekend. Onward with the details for this weekend at Wrigley Field.

Fun fact

The D-backs’ sweep of the Pirates was their first of the year at home. They had previously swept the Reds in Cincinnati in April.

Probable pitching matchups

Friday: Zach Davies, RHP (5-6, 4.35 ERA, 1.479 WHIP, 4.86 FIP) vs. Zac Gallen, RHP (1-4, 3.86 ERA, 1.329 WHIP, 3.90 FIP)

Saturday: Alec Mills, RHP (4-3, 4.64 ERA, 1.433 WHIP, 3.98 FIP) vs. Merrill Kelly, RHP (6-7, 4.46 ERA, 1.229 WHIP, 3.89 FIP)

Sunday: Trevor Williams, RHP (3-2, 5.68 ERA, 1.624 WHIP, 4.93 FIP) vs. Caleb Smith, LHP (3-6, 4.38 ERA, 1.346 WHIP, 4.65 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Friday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, MLB Network (outside Cubs and Diamondbacks market territories)

Saturday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, MLB Network (outside Cubs and Diamondbacks market territories)

Sunday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Prediction

The Cubs enter this series 28-17 at home. The D-backs, despite riding a four-game winning streak beginning this weekend set, are 11-38 on the road and after Madison Bumgarner’s seven-inning “not a no-hitter” April 25, lost an MLB-record 24 straight road games. Overall they are 2-30 on the road since that date (they won once in San Diego and once in Los Angeles).

I’m going to pick the Cubs to sweep this series because of all that.

Up next

The Cubs host the Reds in a four-game series at Wrigley Field beginning Monday evening.