Colorado is heading on the road to face the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs. Even though the Cubs have not played up to their potential yet this season, they have a bunch of talent and the ability to knock off any opponent in the majors.
The Rockies will aim to continue to prove their relevance in the National League in this potential showdown of a pair of playoff teams.
This series will be contested from Thursday, June 8 through Sunday, June 11, 2017 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Friday game will be shown on MLB Network.
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Pitching Matchups
The series will begin with the Rockies sending Tyler Chatwood to the hill. He is 5-7 on the season with a 4.60 ERA. Chatwood has only given three combined earned runs in his past three road starts and will aim to keep that up. Chicago will counter with Jon Lester, who is 3-3 with a 3.91 ERA. Lester has gotten hit a bit his last two times out but is the team’s ace and is tough on hitters.
The Friday series will feature Colorado’s German Marquez against the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks. Marquez is 4-3 on the season with a 4.53 ERA. He has been dealing with a thumb injury but is scheduled to pitch in this one. Hendricks is 4-3 with a 4.09 ERA on the year and has been knocked around his last two starts as well.
On Saturday, the Rockets are slated to start Jeff Hoffman. He has been really impressive since a recent call-up, beginning the year with a 3-0 record and a 2.61 ERA. He is facing a potent Cubs lineup but has shown the type of stuff that can flummox even the best offenses. The Cubs are set to send out Eddie Butler, who has been a replacement in the rotation. Butler is 3-1 on the year with a 3.75 ERA. He has a bad strikeout-to-walk ratio and could be hit hard by Colorado.
In the series finale on Sunday, Colorado will start Antonio Senzatela. He has been great this season, with an 8-2 record and a 3.56 ERA. Considering half his games come in the hitter’s haven of Coors Field, Senzatela has been fantastic. The Cubs’ Jake Arrieta is very good as well. While he has had some struggles and enters with a 6-4 record and 4.46 ERA, he has solid peripheral numbers and has pitched well his last two times out.
Strength Vs. Strength
The Cubs are seven games over .500 at home this season, compared to just 11-16 on the road. They will be happy to be at Wrigley Field for this one and should be favored because of that advantage.
However, the Rockies have surged to the top of the standings in their division because of some road excellence. Colorado has often struggled away from home in its history, but is 21-10 this season, which is the second-best road mark in the major leagues behind only the Houston Astros.
Something will have to give in this one as both are comfortable with the location of the four-game set.
Player To Watch
Charlie Blackmon -- These lineups are filled with great individual hitters, but no one has been more impressive than the Rockies outfielder. Blackmon is batting .333 on the season with 13 homers, 49 RBIs, 46 runs scored and five stolen bases.
Blackmon is the team’s leadoff hitter but is still among the National League leaders in RBIs because the Rockies score a ton and he’s been great with runners on base. Blackmon has a .985 OPS, which leads the team and he really sets the table for everyone else in the lineup.
The Cubs will want to limit his effectiveness as the Rockies often count on him to begin rallies.
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