The Chicago Cubs are back at Wrigley Field this Saturday, May 2, at 1:20 CT, looking to secure a series win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs are riding an impressive wave at home, chasing their 10th consecutive victory at the Friendly Confines. This would mark the 18th double-digit home winning streak in the franchise's Modern Era, with the last one coming back in 2008 when they won 14 in a row. For fans of the blue and pinstripes, this kind of momentum is reminiscent of the 2016 and 2017 seasons, when the Cubs posted back-to-back double-digit home streaks. The all-time record? An 18-game streak in 1935 that helped propel them to the pennant.
Offensively, the Cubs have been flexing their muscle. Yesterday's game featured a pair of three-run innings, giving the team 12 such innings this season. In total, they've posted 44 "crooked-number" innings (scoring two or more runs) out of 95 scoring frames. That kind of production keeps the pressure on opposing pitchers and makes every at-bat must-see TV.
One player heating up is Dansby Swanson. Over his last 17 games since April 12, the shortstop is slashing .273/.391/.600 with five home runs, 11 walks, and 18 RBIs. If he keeps this pace, he'll be a cornerstone of the Cubs' lineup for years to come.
On the mound, Shōta Imanaga takes the ball after a tough outing against the Dodgers last Sunday, where he allowed five runs over 5.1 innings. The silver lining? He didn't give up a home run, and he's only surrendered three long balls all season. Look for him to bounce back and keep the Diamondbacks' bats in check.
And for a bit of history: 25 years ago today (May 2, 2001), the Cubs hit four home runs—from Sammy Sosa, Gary Matthews Jr., Bill Mueller, and Eric Young Sr.—to beat the Padres 8-3 at Wrigley. Could we see a similar power display this afternoon?
Grab your Cubs gear, settle in, and get ready for another exciting chapter of baseball on the North Side.