The Cubs’ (76-64) second-half surge continued with a three-game sweep of the Giants at Wrigley Field. After a bit of an offensive slump, Chicago’s hitters have roared back to life with 39 runs during a four-game win streak. They are just 1.5 games behind the Brewers in the National League Central and have a 3.5-game cushion in the Wild Card race.
Now they welcome one of those squads on the outside looking in at a Wild Card spot, the Arizona Diamondbacks (71-68), for a four-game series starting Thursday. The D-Backs got off to a terrific start in 2023 and led the National League West for a big portion of the first half before the Dodgers blew past them.