Aug 25, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pinch hitter Ryan Waldschmidt (proper) celebrates with teammates Merrill Kelly and Tim Tawa after hitting a two run stroll off dwelling run within the ninth inning in opposition to the Chicago Cubs at Chase Discipline. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs The Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks share the main league lead with 40 come-from-behind victories apiece.
Ryan Waldschmidt proved once more that no lead if secure in opposition to both of those offenses, hitting a two-out, two-run walk-off homer to present the Diamondbacks a 5-4 win on Tuesday.
The groups will play the decisive contest of a three-game sequence on Wednesday in Phoenix.
Waldschmidt, who beat the Los Angeles Dodgers with a game-ending homer on Aug. 7, is the primary rookie in main league historical past to hit two walk-off homers every along with his workforce trailing in the identical calendar month, in line with OptaSTATS.
A pair of left-handers, the Cubs’ Matthew Boyd (8-2, 4.15 ERA) and the D-backs’ Eduardo Rodriguez (13-4, 2.61), will sq. off within the Wednesday matchup of Nationwide League playoff hopefuls.
The Cubs are three video games forward of the Philadelphia Phillies for the highest NL wild card. The D-backs moved inside one recreation of the San Diego Padres for the ultimate wild-card spot.
The D-backs have been the one workforce among the many prime 5 NL wild-card contenders to win on Tuesday. They’d solely two hits, each singles, and have been down 4-0 by way of seven innings earlier than rallying.
“These boys do not give up,” Arizona supervisor Torey Lovullo mentioned. “They’re 26 linked-up gamers that consider they will go on the market and inform their story and get their job accomplished to win a baseball recreation.”
The Cubs had gone in entrance when change hitter Ian Happ hit a three-run homer within the fourth inning off right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. Happ has three homers up to now 5 video games, and the Cubs have a major-league-high 43 homers in 23 video games this month.
“We want Ian from the left aspect to have some energy,” Counsell mentioned. “Ian’s taken a few massive swings on the highway journey for certain.”
Rodriguez has gained his previous three begins and 6 of his previous seven choices. His 16 high quality begins are tied for fifth within the majors.
The 33-year-old veteran threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in a 9-0 victory over Cincinnati on Friday. He gave up 4 hits and two walks, and the Reds went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring place whereas he was on the mound.
Rodriguez has proven a knack for getting out of jams. Opponents are hitting .156 in opposition to him with runners in scoring place and .111 with the bases loaded.
“Proper now, we simply go up there and play the sport,” Rodriguez mentioned. “We consider in one another. Anyone goes to be a hero — pitchers, hitters, relievers, protection.”
Rodriguez, who has spent most of his profession within the American League, is 0-0 with a 3.18 ERA in two profession begins in opposition to the Cubs. Alex Bregman, one other long-time AL participant, is 9-for-27 with three homers and eight RBIs vs. the lefty.
Boyd beat the D-backs in Chicago on Might 3, holding them to 2 runs in six innings throughout an 8-4 victory, then didn’t pitch once more for the Cubs till late June.
He underwent meniscus surgical procedure on Might 7, an harm prompted when he bent awkwardly whereas enjoying along with his youngsters, however was at his greatest when he returned.
Boyd went 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA in seven begins upon rejoining the rotation, capped by a run of three high quality begins to conclude July. This month hasn’t been pretty much as good, as he’s 2-1 with a 6.12 ERA in 4 begins. Most just lately, he allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, in six innings of a no-decision at Seattle on Friday.
In 4 profession begins in opposition to Arizona, Boyd is 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA.
–Discipline Stage Media
