Chicago @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( May 2, 2010 ) Arizona 5, Chi. Cubs 10
Two disappointing teams get together for a three-game series when the Chicago Cubs visit the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Arizona is 18 games under .500, 4-6 in its last 10 games and has dropped two straight heading into Monday's series opener.
The Diamondbacks recently fired their manager and general manager, but the move does not appear to have lit a fire under the team. Arizona has returned to its losing ways after a brief respite.
The Diamondbacks fired manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Josh Byrnes on Thursday night and - for one night - the shakeup seemed to work. Arizona opened its current 10-game homestand with a 12-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night with former World Series hero Kirk Gibson as manager.
Then the old Diamondbacks reared their ugly heads.
Arizona committed a franchise-record six errors in Saturday's loss and managed only two runs over the final two games of the series.
It will take more than a game, or three, for Gibson to turn things around in Arizona. He'll need to change the teams mentality, toughness and apparently its ability to make contact at the plate.
The Diamondbacks registered 16 strikeouts on Sunday, tying a season high. They have struck out 761 times this season and are on pace to easily set a new major league strikeout record.
The Cubs enter the series having lost three of four to the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field and they are 3-7 in their last 10 games. About the only thing the Cubs have going for them right now is that they are 7-2 vs. the NL West this season.
Chicago is starting a seven-game road trip that leads into the All Star break. The Cubs will look to get the trek off to a good start with Tom Gorzelanny on the hill.
Gorzelanny (2-5, 3.14 ERA) pitched last Wednesday, making his first start since May 26 and was returned to the Cubs rotation after Carlos Zambrano was placed on the restricted list. Gorzelanny pitched five shutout innings, but his effort was squandered in a 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ian Kennedy (3-6, 3.77) gets the start for the Diamondbacks and is looking to snap a three-start losing streak in which the team has not scored more than three runs.
Kennedy defeated the Cubs in his only career start against them back on April 29 at Wrigley Field when he allowed five runs and six hits in eight innings. Kennedy has not earned a win since May 19 against the San Francisco Giants.