Today, the Chicago Cubs are poised to achieve a remarkable feat: their tenth straight win on their home turf. This pursuit not only underscores their current dominance but also evokes memories of past glories, as the team has rarely achieved such extended winning runs at home. This impending game against the Arizona Diamondbacks is more than just another fixture; it's a potential moment of historical significance at Wrigley Field. Meanwhile, key players like Dansby Swanson are showcasing exceptional form, further fueling the Cubs' momentum. The pitching duel between Shōta Imanaga and Ryne Nelson adds another layer of intrigue, as both hurlers look to either maintain or reclaim their best performances.
Cubs Set Sights on 10th Consecutive Home Victory at Iconic Wrigley Field
On a significant Saturday, May 2, 2026, the Chicago Cubs are striving for their tenth consecutive victory at home, a milestone that would be their nineteenth such streak in the Modern Era of baseball. Their historic home, Wrigley Field, has been the stage for 14 of these double-digit winning streaks since 1916. The most recent streak of this magnitude occurred from May 18 to June 22, 2008, when they won 14 straight. Prior to that, a 13-game streak in 2001 and a 10-game run in 1998 were the only others since 1970. The club’s all-time record for consecutive home wins stands at 18, achieved between September 4 and 22, 1935, a period that saw them surge to a pennant. Several past streaks concluded after 10 games, while others ended after 9 victories, with the earliest recorded runs spanning from 1908 to 1933, followed by singular instances in 1957, and back-to-back occurrences in 2016 and 2017.
In their most recent game, the Cubs demonstrated an offensive surge with two three-run innings, marking their eleventh and twelfth such instances this season. These innings contributed to a total of 44 'crooked-number' innings where they’ve scored, out of 95 total scoring innings. Conversely, they have conceded multiple runs in 35 of the 74 innings in which opponents scored.
Star shortstop Dansby Swanson has been on a hot streak, particularly over his last 17 games since April 12. During this period, he boasts a batting line of .273/.391/.600, with 15 hits in 55 at-bats, including one double, one triple, five home runs, 11 walks, 16 runs scored, and an impressive 18 runs batted in. Looking back exactly 25 years ago, on May 2, 2001, the Cubs showcased their power against the Padres, securing an 8-3 victory at Wrigley Field with four home runs hit by Sammy Sosa, Gary Matthews Jr., Bill Mueller, and Eric Young Sr.
Today's pitching matchup features left-hander Shōta Imanaga for the Cubs against right-hander Ryne Nelson for the Diamondbacks. Imanaga, despite a challenging outing against the Dodgers recently, where he surrendered five runs in 5.1 innings, demonstrated resilience by not allowing a home run. His season has been marked by significant improvement in preventing long balls, giving up only three in 34.1 innings. Following a difficult debut against the Nationals, Imanaga posted a stellar 2.45 ERA and a 0.750 WHIP across five starts in April, covering 29.1 innings. He previously dominated the D-backs on March 29, 2025, throwing seven innings of three-hit, one-run ball at Chase Field, a performance the Cubs hope he can replicate. Ryne Nelson, who had a solid 2025 season with a 3.39 ERA and 1.071 WHIP over 33 games (23 starts), has struggled considerably this year. After two decent starts, his last four have been problematic, allowing 15 hits and 14 earned runs in just 5.1 innings across his previous two appearances, resulting in a staggering 23.83 ERA. He has also given up six home runs in 25.2 innings this season. Last year, Nelson faced the Cubs in two relief appearances, where they hit him hard for 10 hits and nine runs in 2.1 innings.
Today's game promises an intriguing battle between a surging Cubs team and a Diamondbacks squad looking to turn their fortunes around. With a historical home winning streak on the line and key players performing at their peak, this matchup is one to watch. The pitching performances, particularly Nelson's ability to contain the Cubs' offense, will be crucial in determining the outcome.
