Arizona Diamondbacks @ Chicago Cubs - April 19, 2025

As I gear up for the matchup between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, it’s time to dive into the numbers and trends that could shape this game. The Diamondbacks are coming off a tough loss against the Cubs, but they’ve shown resilience lately, winning five of their last six games. Their record stands at 12-8, which is impressive considering their offensive output.

When we look at the pitching matchups, Zac Gallen will take the mound for Arizona. Although his win-loss record sits at 1-2 with a 4.6 ERA, he boasts an impressive strikeout rate of approximately 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings. This indicates that while he may have had some rough outings this season, he has the potential to dominate when he’s on his game.

On the other side, Ben Brown takes the hill for Chicago with a slightly better record of 2-1 but a higher ERA of around 5.1. His strikeout rate is lower than Gallen’s at about 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings, suggesting that he may struggle to keep hitters off balance compared to his counterpart.

Offensively, both teams have been productive this season; however, Arizona edges out Chicago in several key categories. The Diamondbacks average about 5.4 runs per game with a batting average of .252 and an on-base percentage slugging percentage (OPS) hovering around 78%. In contrast, while Chicago averages roughly 5.3 runs per game and matches Arizona in hits (8.5), their batting average sits at .236—indicative of some struggles getting on base consistently.

Given these stats and recent performances, I predict that Arizona will come out on top tonight against Chicago. They have been playing well overall and possess a slight edge in both pitching and hitting metrics that could prove crucial in a close matchup like this one.

As for total runs scored in this game? With both pitchers having ERAs above four and given how tightly contested these games can be historically—especially early in the season—I lean towards an outcome where we see fewer than expected runs crossing home plate tonight despite both teams’ offensive capabilities.

In summary: I’m forecasting an Arizona victory over Chicago tonight with final scores likely under the set total line of 7.5 runs based on current trends and statistical analysis from both sides as we head into what should be another exciting chapter in MLB action!