Arizona @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Mar 11, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 7, Arizona 5
The Chicago Cubs will put their season-best four-game winning streak to the test on Friday when the National League West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks head to Wrigley Field to begin a three-game series. The Diamondbacks saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with a 9-5 loss at Texas on Thursday. The setback began Arizona's eight-game road trip.
The Cubs took three straight from the crosstown rival Chicago White Sox to run up their longest winning streak of the year, which comes on the heels of a season-worst six-game skid. The Cubs have climbed out of the NL Central cellar but are still eight games below .500 and far from contention. The Diamondbacks won the season series last year, claiming five of nine meetings.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (3-4, 4.53 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Matt Garza (0-0, 4.00)
Miley has been knocked around recently, losing three straight starts and four of his last five. His last outing was the shortest of his career, as he was tagged for seven runs on as many hits in 3 2/3 innings. Miley was tremendous in his only previous start against the Cubs, holding them to one run on three hits over eight innings last season.
After throwing five innings of one-hit ball in his season debut, Garza didn't fare as well his second time out, allowing four runs in as many frames at Cincinnati on Sunday. His command has been an issue, with seven walks in nine innings over his first two outings. Garza has been great against Arizona, going 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in three starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks 3B Eric Chavez left Thursday's game with a strained right oblique after a swing and miss in the first inning. Chavez will travel to Phoenix for an MRI to determine whether a trip to the disabled list is in order.
2. Struggling Cubs RF Scott Hairston, who recorded his first multi-hit game of the season Wednesday, is 4-for-6 with three doubles against Miley.
3. Arizona CF A.J. Pollock is 11-for-23 during a six-game hitting streak, matching the longest streak of his career. He has four multi-hit games during that span.
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Diamondbacks 4