Diamondbacks at Cubs
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been tough to beat on the road lately, and especially at Wrigley Field. The Diamondbacks will try for their fifth consecutive victory at Wrigley when they face the host Chicago Cubs for the third of a four-game series Wednesday.
Arizona is 16-5 over its last 21 road games after outscoring Chicago 12-2 in the first two contests. The Cubs have lost back-to-back games for the first time in a month after a second consecutive quiet night from the offense. Jason Heyward’s home run was the only extra-base hit for Chicago on Tuesday, and Ian Happ’s double was the Cubs’ only extra-base knock in the series opener. Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has enjoyed facing the Cubs, as he is 9-for-21 with six homers and nine RBIs in his past six games against Chicago.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (3-2, 5.37 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (12-3, 3.14)
After a breakout season in 2017, Ray has struggled this year. The 26-year-old has only three quality starts in 11 outings this season, and he has posted a 7.65 ERA over his last four starts. Ray is 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA in two starts against the Cubs.
Lester stumbled a bit in his last couple of starts before the All-Star Game, and he was hit hard in his first outing coming out of the break. The 34-year-old was tagged for eight runs over three-plus innings in a loss to St. Louis on Friday - his first defeat since May 23. Lester is 2-1 with a 4.86 ERA in six starts against Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant got the day off Tuesday to rest his sore left shoulder, and manager Joe Maddon told reporters the slugger might be held out of the lineup again Wednesday.
2. Goldschmidt has reached base in 24 consecutive road games.
3. Diamondbacks RF Steven Souza Jr. is 13-for-30 over his past nine games, lifting his average from .148 to .242.