Chicago @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 2, 2013 ) Arizona 8, Chi. Cubs 4
The Chicago Cubs hand the ball to Matt Garza - perhaps for the last time - as they begin a four-game series in the desert against the National League West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. The Cubs still haven't found a landing spot for Garza, the most sought-after pitcher on the trade market, but it seems clear his days in Chicago are waning. He will try to make one last good impression on his suitors when he takes on the Diamondbacks, who are clinging to a half-game lead over the surging Los Angeles Dodgers.
Arizona snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 win Sunday at San Francisco, but the offense continued to struggle. The Diamondbacks haven't scored more than three runs in any of their last four contests and are averaging 2.6 over their last 10 games. The Cubs dropped two straight at Colorado after winning the series opener, with their 4-3 defeat on Sunday dropping them to 11-21 in one-run decisions.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), FSN (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Matt Garza (6-1, 3.17 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Tyler Skaggs (2-1, 4.03)
Garza has boosted his stock by going 5-0 with a 1.47 ERA over his last five outings - all quality starts. He beat the Cardinals last time out, allowing two runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings. The 29-year-old is looking for his second win against Arizona this year - he allowed two runs over seven frames on May 31 - and is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in four all-time meetings.
Skaggs, who is a little more than a week past his 22nd birthday, has shown flashes of brilliance but has been inconsistent at the major-league level this season. He has posted two scoreless outings, including an eight-inning stint against Colorado on July 5, but he didn't get out of the fifth frame last time out against the Dodgers. Skaggs never has faced the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Diamondbacks have 21 wins in their last at-bat - the most in the majors - and are second in the NL with 27 comeback victories.
2. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt has hit safely in 14-of-17 games this month, but he is 0-for-6 with three strikeouts against Garza.
3. The Cubs have hit 20 home runs in July - the most in the NL - and have gone deep at least once in six straight games and 14-of-16 this month.
PREDICTION: Cubs 3, Diamondbacks 1