This is the Chicago Cubs chance to get back into playoff contention as all their games this month are against teams near or below .500. They start, what they hope to be a long winning streak, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs will send Kyle Hendricks to the mound for today's start. So far this season, he has posted an 11-4 record with a 3.77 ERA and 80 strikeouts. Against the Diamondbacks in his career, he is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 39 strikeouts.

The Arizona Diamondbacks can only go up in the second half of the season but it is hard to see that happening. They finished the first half of the season with a 26-66 record and are 32.5 games out of first. The Diamondbacks will counter with Madison Bumgarner on the mound. So far this season, he has posted a 4-5 record with a 5.73 ERA and 62 strikeouts. Against the Cubs in his career, he is 9-2 with a 2.30 ERA.

The Diamondbacks have been flat-out terrible this season, but have snuck up on people this season(22 times). This could be the last go around for Rizzo, Bryant, Baez, and Contreras so I expect them to come out hard for the next couple of weeks. They have already traded Pederson, so things are moving.

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