Arizona @ Chicago preview

Arizona at Chi. Cubs

Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2015 ) Arizona 5, Chi. Cubs 14

Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta looks to join Johnny Vander Meer in the record books when he takes the mound for the second of a three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday. Arrieta gets the ball for the first time since tossing his first career no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday as the Cubs try for a second straight victory.

Chicago belted four home runs in a 14-5 rout of Arizona on Friday and is in position to end a streak of three straight series losses. The Cubs’ rookies continue to produce, as Javier Baez went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs and Addison Russell homered twice and drove in three in the series opener. The Cubs might not need nearly as much offense behind Arrieta, who hopes to match Vander Meer’s unduplicated feat of tossing back-to-back no-hitters in 1938. He might have a tough time cooling off the Diamondbacks, who have scored four or more runs in six straight games and recorded double-digit hits in five of those contests.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, CSN Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (3-10, 3.72 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (17-6, 2.11)

Ray has had a difficult second half, losing his last six decisions while posting a 5.62 ERA over his past eight starts. The 23-year-old has seen his ERA rise more than 1 1/2 runs since the All-Star break, when he had a 2.16 ERA. Ray has been much better on the road (3-5, 2.64 ERA) than at home (0-5, 5.60).

Arrieta won all six of his starts in August, posting an 0.43 ERA and holding opponents to a .130 batting average. The 29-year-old won 11 of his last 12 decisions and has recorded 14 consecutive quality starts. Arrieta endured one of his rockier outings of the season at Arizona on May 23, allowing six runs – three earned – over six innings in a no-decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. Russell is the 12th Cubs player this season with a multi-homer game, including four rookies.

2. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt is expected to rejoin the team Saturday after missing two games to be with his wife, Amy, for the birth of their first child.

3. Cubs C/LF Kyle Schwarber sat out Friday and will miss a minimum of 3-5 games with a mild ribcage strain.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Diamondbacks 3