Arizona @ Chicago Preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 19, 2025 ) Arizona 2, Chi. Cubs 6
The host Chicago Cubs will vie for a sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday after showing off their major league-leading offense in the first two games of the series.
The Cubs totaled six homers in 13-11 and 6-2 victories in the first two games and have scored 143 runs in their first 23 games, by far the most in the big leagues.
Seiya Suzuki homered for the second straight game on Saturday for the Cubs, whose bullpen -- which was shelled for 10 runs in the eighth inning on Friday -- gave up one run on one hit in five innings to keep the Diamondbacks at bay.
"Seiya has so much power," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. "He hits the ball so hard. It feels like he is in a spot where he is doing a little better job of getting a pitch and driving it. The ability of putting runs on the board fast is certainly something he is capable of doing."
Arizona's Merrill Kelly (3-1, 5.57 ERA) will oppose Chicago's Jameson Taillon (1-1, 5.40) on Sunday in a battle of right-handers. The Cubs have won four of the six games in the season series that ends Sunday. Each team has scored 40 runs in the first six games.
Cubs first baseman Michael Busch had five hits over the first two games of the series and followed Suzuki's homer with one of his own Saturday.
"He's a good hitter," Counsell said of Busch. "He's a young hitter. The goal is, with 500 plate appearances under your belt, learn from them and get a little better from them. Understand what you have to be a little bit better at."
Leadoff man Corbin Carroll continues to carry the Diamondbacks, who have been without second baseman Ketel Marte for two weeks.
Carroll extended his hitting streak to 12 games with three hits -- including a homer -- on Saturday, and he has reached base in all 21 games this season.
"I'm not trying to hit homers," said Carroll, who has seven. "I'm just trying to hit balls hard on a line, and some of them get out."
The Diamondbacks overhauled their bullpen after the loss on Friday. Left-hander A.J. Puk, who has a team-high four saves, was placed on the injured list before Saturday's game with left elbow inflammation.
Right-handers Drey Jameson, J.P. Feyereisen and Juan Morillo were added when Joe Mantiply and Bryce Jarvis were optioned to Triple-A Reno.
Kelly and Taillon will meet for the second time this season. They opposed each other on March 28 in the second contest of a four-game set in Phoenix.
Kelly danced around trouble and picked up his first victory, giving up one run in 5 1/3 innings despite allowing seven baserunners.
Taillon was not as fortunate. Eugenio Suarez hit two-run homers to stake the D-backs to a 4-1 lead that grew to 6-1 by the time Taillon was removed with one out in the fifth.
Kelly has made two straight quality starts and has been their most effective starter this season. He is 3-1 with a 3.49 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs.
Taillon is 1-2 with a 5.24 ERA in four career starts against Arizona.
--Field Level Media