Chicago @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2012 ) Arizona 1, Chi. Cubs 3
The margin for error is as slim as it can be for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have to win their final six games and have St. Louis lose its last six - along with some other help - to make the playoffs. The Diamondbacks do have one thing going for them, however, as they're set to host a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs. The reeling Cubs are 0-16 on the road against National League West opponents this season.
Arizona's already slim playoff chances took a hit with Thursday's 7-3 loss to San Francisco. The Diamondbacks wrap up the regular season with six home games against two of the three worst teams in the majors in the Cubs and Colorado Rockies, but they still could be eliminated by the end of Friday with a St. Louis win against Washington. The Cubs have lost nine of 10 and are closing in on a dubious milestone - their first 100-loss season since going 59-103 in 1966. Chicago must win four of its last six games to avoid triple-digit defeats.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, Fox Sports Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Travis Wood (6-12, 4.23 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (14-11, 4.14)
Wood has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts, but he has just two wins over that span. He gave up three runs (two earned) over five innings in a no-decision against St. Louis his last time out. Wood is 1-2 with a 5.51 ERA in three starts against the Diamondbacks but has not faced them this season.
Kennedy has won his last three decisions, but he was unable to add to his winning streak his last time out. He allowed four runs over six innings in a no-decision at Colorado. Kennedy is 1-2 with a 7.34 ERA in five starts against the Cubs, including a loss in his only outing against them this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs OF Alfonso Soriano is enjoying his most productive season with the Cubs with 31 homers and a career-high 106 RBIs. He is 6-for-11 (.545) with three homers against Kennedy.
2. Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt is riding a 10-game hitting streak. He had a 17-game streak earlier this season.
3. Cubs 2B Darwin Barney has played 141 consecutive games without an error at second base, matching Placido Polanco (2007) for the single-season major league record.