Cubs at Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks haven’t lost to someone other than the Chicago Cubs in nearly two weeks - but that’s who they’ll face when they open a five-game homestand Friday. The surging teams square off for a three-game series with the Cubs having won nine of their last 12 while Arizona has won nine of its last 11.
The Diamondbacks are returning home after an 8-2 road trip in which they swept three in Atlanta and four in Pittsburgh but dropped two of three to the Cubs last weekend. Arizona’s pitching has been excellent of late, including a 5-0 shutout in the finale in Pittsburgh on Thursday. The Cubs’ starting pitching was strong in the first series, including a dominant effort from Kyle Hendricks, who will get the ball in Friday's opener. Chicago got a solid outing from Jon Lester on Thursday but didn’t muster enough offense in a 2-1 loss, failing to complete a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago Plus, FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (1-3, 3.54 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (0-1, 3.95)
Hendricks has been trending in the right direction after a slow start, and is coming off his best performance of the season against Arizona on Friday. The 29-year-old struck out 11 and limited the Diamondbacks to three hits and two walks over seven scoreless innings. Hendricks is 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA in five starts against Arizona, including 2-0 with a 1.76 ERA in two outings at Chase Field.
Ray is winless in five starts despite allowing three runs or fewer in four of them. The 27-year-old recorded his first quality start of the season Sunday against the Cubs, allowing one run and four hits over six innings with four strikeouts. Ray is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts against the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona OF Jarrod Dyson was 3-for-5 on Thursday and is 12-for-33 during an eight-game hitting streak.
2. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo is 7-for-19 during a six-game hitting streak.
3. Diamondbacks OF Adam Jones has missed the past two games with a sore left hand.