Diamondbacks at Cubs
Dominant pitching seems to be contagious in the case of the Chicago Cubs’ starting rotation, and the team hopes Yu Darvish will be next to catch the bug. The Cubs will look to Darvish to try and run their winning streak to five games when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday afternoon for the middle contest of their three-game series.
Outstanding pitching has been the key during Chicago's surge, as it has allowed only three runs in four games and owned a 31-inning scoreless streak before Arizona broke through in the ninth inning of the Cubs' 5-1 victory on Friday. The latest win gave the Cubs six victories in seven games and pulled them back to the .500 mark following a 1-6 start. The loss in the opener ended a four-game winning streak for the Diamondbacks and dropped them to .500. Arizona is trying to win a third consecutive road series after sweeping three games in Atlanta earlier this week.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, ABC 7 (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (2-1, 5.79 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Yu Darvish (1-2, 6.11)
Greinke was dinged for four home runs in his season debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he has posted quality starts in each of his three outings since. The 35-year-old has continued to give up the long ball, surrendering four more in his last three starts, but has registered 28 strikeouts against four walks across 23 1/3 innings. Greinke is 4-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 career starts against the Cubs, including an 0-2 mark and an 8.31 ERA in five turns at Wrigley Field.
Darvish has yet to get through six innings in four starts this season, but he is trending in the right direction. The 32-year-old continued to struggle with his command last time out, issuing four walks in 5 2/3 innings, but he limited Miami to two runs and struck out eight in his first win. Darvish is 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA in three career starts against Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona acquired INF-OF Blake Swihart from Boston on Friday for OF Marcus Wilson and $500,000 in international bonus pool money.
2. The Cubs are 9-1 when tied or leading after five innings and 0-8 when trailing after five.
3. Diamondbacks OF David Peralta went 1-for-4 on Friday and is 11-for-33 during his nine-game hitting streak.