The Chicago Cubs are riding high after a stellar 17-9 April, winning 12 of their last 15 games. Now, they welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks to Wrigley Field for a weekend series that promises plenty of intrigue.
The Diamondbacks arrive in Chicago struggling, having lost six of their last nine. Arizona just split a series with the Padres in Mexico City before stopping in Milwaukee—where they were outscored a brutal 28-9 in a three-game set. That lopsided scoring margin tells a bigger story: the D-backs somehow finished April above .500 despite being outscored by 24 runs overall, largely because they've lost six of seven games decided by more than five runs.
Pitching has been Arizona's Achilles' heel. They ranked 27th in ERA coming into Thursday, and the 13-1 loss to the Brewers won't help. There are glimmers of hope—Eduardo Rodriguez is finally looking like the $80 million arm the team signed in 2023, and relievers Juan Morillo and Taylor Clarke have been effective. But Merrill Kelly has struggled mightily, and backup catcher James McCann is on pace for a staggering 22 mound appearances this season.
Offensively, the Diamondbacks have been solid despite quiet contributions from stars Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo. Corbin Carroll remains as dynamic as ever, but the real story is Ildemaro Vargas. In his tenth season, the 33-year-old entered 2025 with a career OPS+ of just 78. Now? He's leading the majors with a .378 batting average and tops the NL in OPS at 1.087. His current 26-game hitting streak, dating back to last season, is the second-longest in franchise history—trailing only Paul Goldschmidt's 30-game run. While few expect this pace to last, it's been one of baseball's most unlikely feel-good stories.
As the Cubs look to extend their hot streak at the Friendly Confines, this series offers a classic matchup: a confident, well-rounded Chicago team against an Arizona squad searching for consistency. Whether you're cheering from the bleachers or watching from home, it's the perfect weekend to show your team pride in fresh Cubs gear—because every great win starts with looking the part.