June 04--Off to their second-best start since 1900, the Cubs (38-25) are 23 games over .500. For the third consecutive game, the team will face an unfamiliar face on the mound, this time Arizona's Edwin Escobar. Ben Zobrist's one at-bat is the only any Cubs have against him.
Friday's Diamondbacks pitcher, Archie Bradley, had face only Jason Heyward twice.
Jason Hammel (6-1) will pitch for the Cubs. Hammel left his last start after just two innings because of cramping in his right hamstring. Hammel's 2.09 ERA is fifth in the majors.
At the plate
Kris Bryant has nine 13 home runs in his last 100 at-bats coming into Saturday. Ben Zobrist is hitting .372 with seven home runs, 31 RBIs and 27 walks since April 18. His .440 on-base percentage leads baseball.
On the mound
Cubs starters have allowed 10 runs in their last 10 games at Wrigley Field and the pitching staff has a 0.98 ERA during the first eight games of this 10-game homestand.
Key number
1. Times Dexter Fowler has reached base leading off a game for the Cubs, best in the majors.
Up next
Vs. Diamondbacks, 1:20 p.m. Sunday, CSN. RH Jake Arrieta (9-0, 1.56) vs. LH Patrick Corbin (At 2-5, 4.96).
Saturday's lineups
Diamondbacks (24-33)
Jean Segura, 2B
Brandon Drury, RF
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
Jake Lamb, 3B
Welington Castillo, C
Chris Owings, CF
Yasmany Tomas, LF
Nick Ahmed, SS
Edwin Escobar, LHP
Cubs (38-15)
Dexter Fowler, CF
Jason Heyward, RF
Kris Bryant, 3B
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Jorge Soler, LF
Addison Russell, SS
David Ross, C
Jason Hammel, RHP
pskrbina@tribpub.com
