The Chicago Cubs were on the verge of taking the series thanks to Kyle Tucker’s three-run home run when an eighth-inning bullpen meltdown thwarted those efforts.

Since the day last year when the Diamondbacks ended a game with reliever Scott McGough striking out at the plate, pitcher Ryne Nelson's lobbying efforts began. Every chance he had, he assured manager Torey Lovullo that if he were ever given an at-bat,

The Chicago Cubs opened their first domestic series with a split against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where the team's strengths and flaws were on full display. Here are five takeaways from the series as the Cubs look to right the ship this week.