The Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs have had an exciting series that has featured two extra inning games so far. For the Cubs today’s game marks the conclusion of a three series nine game road trip. Prior to yesterday their bats had been quiet, where they had scored an average of under three runs their prior five games. After yesterday’s breakout look for the bats to continue to excel in a hitter friendly ballpark. Take the Cubs.

These two teams have played back-to-back extra-innings games, which has put a strain on both bullpens. The D-Backs bullpen has throw 192 pitches over the last two days, while the Cubs needed 123 pitches from their bullpen yesterday alone. That means Jordan Wicks should be tasked with not only completing the fifth inning for the first time this season but pitching into the sixth inning. The problem hasn't been his pitch count, which has been between 85 and 100 in all three starts, but racking up 19 Ks while putting 24 guys on base in just 12.2 innings. I expect the team to have him prioritize length today, throwing 100 pitches and getting through at least 16 outs.

This is a shockingly high number for Brandon Pfaadt who has failed to record seven strikeouts in 17 of 22 starts dating back to last season. He will face a Cubs lineup that is fairly stingy in the K department who strikeout just 8.35x per game over 9 IP. Pfaadt has been shaky early in the season sand the Cubs bats have been heating up. This looks like a solid spot to fade what certainly appears to be an inflated K prop.