Will Sloan Park Witness Cubs' Resurgence Against Cardinals?

As the Chicago Cubs prepare to host the St. Louis Cardinals at Sloan Park, fans are eager to see if their team can bounce back from a recent slump. The upcoming game, scheduled for March 26th at 7:05 PM MST and broadcasted on ESPN+, promises to be an intriguing matchup.

The Cubs have had a mixed bag of results in their last few outings. In their most recent game against the Cardinals, they fell short with only seven hits leading to three runs, compared to the Cardinals' ten hits and six runs. Despite a strong start where they led in early innings, the Cubs couldn't maintain momentum as their bullpen allowed five runs over five innings pitched – an ERA that stood out sorely.

Analyzing further back, we notice that while the Cubs showcased offensive prowess with fourteen hits and nine runs against Seattle Mariners – including three home runs – their pitching was less effective as evidenced by an ERA of 9.0 across nine innings.

Against Milwaukee Brewers, however, it was a different story; despite only seven hits and four runs by the Cubs’ offense, they managed better control on the mound with a combined ERA of 7.0 over nine innings.

Sloan Park has been witness to these fluctuating performances but remains a fortress for hope among fans who will look towards its familiar confines for comfort and advantage. The venue's grass surface has seen many memorable moments and could play into how both teams approach this game strategically.

The key question is whether or not the Cubs can leverage home advantage effectively against their rivals from St. Louis this time around? With recent statistics showing potential in both batting and pitching but lacking consistency overall, it's clear that all eyes will be on how they start off this encounter - especially since early leads have not always translated into wins for them lately.

Fans should expect an intense battle where every hit counts and pitchers are under scrutiny as both teams vie for dominance early in this preseason clash at Mesa’s beloved ballpark.