Red-hot Ildemaro Vargas, struggling D-backs gear up for Cubs

Arizona’s Ildemaro Vargas is the top hitter in baseball now that he has reached the qualifying threshold, but that might not mean the kidding will stop.

Vargas raised his batting average to a major-league-leading .404 with a four-hit game in the Diamondbacks’ 6-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Friday, extending his season-opening hitting streak to 24 games and his overall streak to 27.

As the streak built, D-Backs’ teammates jokingly told Vargas, “Hey, you haven’t done anything yet.”

Look at him now.

Vargas will look to extend both streaks when the D-backs send right-hander Ryne Nelson (1-2, 7.71 ERA) to oppose left-hander Shota Imanaga (2-2, 3.15) in the second game of a three-game series at Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon.

Vargas’ 27-game hitting streak dating to last September is the longest active streak in the majors and three short of Luis Gonzalez’s team record set in 1999.

“I try not to think about it too much,” Vargas said through an interpreter. “The goal is to go through the day as routinely as I can, as if it isn’t happening. The priority is to help the team, and that takes pressure away from me.”

His streak is the longest in the majors since Trea Turner’s 27-gamer in 2021-22, and the longest season-opening streak since Ron LeFlore’s 30-gamer to open 1976.

“He’s a great piece for a manager to have,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said of Vargas. “He’s very versatile. He’s engaged. He’s shown a high baseball IQ. Right now he’s on a heater, and we’re going to enjoy that.”

The D-backs have scuffled recently despite Vargas’ contributions, having lost seven of their past 10 games. They have not had a starting pitcher throw seven innings since Michael Soroka went seven to beat Toronto 6-3 on April 17.

Zac Gallen gave up six runs and lasted only 3 2/3 innings in the loss Friday. A defensive misplay also cost the D-backs a run, and another scored on a wild pitch.

“We’ve got to be better,” said Lovullo, who spoke harshly to the group in the dugout early in the game. “We have to do things up to our standard. We should have probably given up three runs today, and we gave up six.”

The Cubs are streaking the other way. They have won nine straight at Wrigley Field and 13 of their last 16 overall.

Michael Busch had two hits and a two-run single to continue his upward trajectory after a slow start, and the bullpen limited Arizona to one hit after Geraldo Perdomo’s three-run homer brought the D-backs within 6-5 in the sixth.

“A very, very good day for Michael,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.

Jacob Webb became the sixth Cub pitcher to record a save this season. He went two innings, struck out three and allowed a walk. He walked Vargas to open the ninth before getting two strikeouts and a weak grounder.

Imanaga gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 6-0 loss Sunday at the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last time out, halting a streak of three quality starts and four starts in which he gave up one run or less. The Cubs have been shut out in two of his starts.

Imanaga is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two career starts against the D-backs, giving up only five hits in 14 innings. Ketel Marte is 0-for-6 against him, and Perdomo is 0-for-4.

Nelson gave up six runs, including two homers to Manny Machado, in five innings on Sunday in his last outing, a no-decision in which the D-backs rallied for a 12-7 victory over San Diego in the Mexico City Series.

Nelson is 2-0 with a 6.88 ERA in five appearances, three starts, against the Cubs. He was roughed in two relief appearances against them last season, giving up nine runs in 2 1/3 innings. Ian Happ is 3-for-7 with a homer against him.

–Field Level Media