As a crime?
Two of the most productive crimes in the National League will meet when Chicago Cubs will be hosting Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday afternoon to start a series of three games.
Cubs leads Majors with 124 runs, 11 more than the al-leading New York Yankees. Diamondbacks are bound for third in Majors with 104.
It doesn’t stay there. Cubs and Diamondbacks are second and third in NL in Homers behind Los Angeles Dodgers, and the kids lead NL with 29 stolen bases.
The right-wing dealer Corbin Burnes (0-1, 5.28 era) starts on Friday for Diamondbacks, which has won five straight and seven out of eight. Cubs goes with the right hand Colin Sale (0-0, 1.00).
Chicago returns home after sharing a six-match road trip against Dodgers and Padres. They got eight runs while losing two out of three in San Diego, just their second series loss this season and their first since they lost both games to Dodgers in Tokyo in mid -March.
“We will be resilient,” said Cubs -Manager Craig Counsell. “When you are tested on it, you must not choose. There will be tests during the season. In the end, it is about winning the game tonight and turning the page and playing a good game regardless of results the next day. I think we are linked to doing it.”
Diamondbacks got 22 runs and met nine homers in a three-game swipe by Miami who ended with a 6-4 victory on Thursday, when they had six stolen bases, three of Corbin Carroll and five hits.
“We drove all over the bases,” said First Baseman/DH Pavin Smith, who was 6 for 11 with two homers, three walks and a stolen base in the series. “It was a good swipe for us. Just good to start this road trip well.”
Cleanup Hitter Josh Naylor ended up in all three in Miami, and leader Carroll has reached the base in all 19 matches this season.
Burnes is still looking for his first victory with Diamondbacks in his fourth start since he signed his six -year -old, $ 210 million free agent contract, although his excursions have gradually been better.
Burnes made his first quality start of the season last time and gave up three runs on four hits in six rounds against Milwaukee on Saturday. He did not make a decision in Diamondback’s 5-4 victory.
He missed the team’s four-game series in Arizona from March 27-30 but is not stranger to the kids after meeting them often in NL Central with Milwaukee. Burnes is 2-5 with a 3.36 era against CUBS in 17 matches, including 11 starts. He is 0-4 with a 3.16 era in his last six starts (four quality start) from 2022.
Dansby Swanson is 11 out of 18 with two homers and six RBIs from Burnes.
SALE will make its second start in four days for the kids, who are looking for ways to cover the lost rounds when No. 2 starter Justin Steele went down with a seasonal left elbow injury last week.
Sale hit the fourth round of a 4-2 victory against Dodgers on Sunday, one of seven kids in the match. He gave up a drive and four hits while he knocked out five. Sale was 18-12 in 49 starts with Milwaukee 2023-24 after spending 2022 in Japan.
Ray has no winnings or losses against Diamondbacks in four career appearance, including three starts, but struck a 6.91 era. He gave up 12 runs (11 earned) and 21 hits in 14 1/3 rounds. Carroll is 2 for 5 with a double and three RBI against sale.
-Field level media
