Colorado @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Mar 19, 2014 ) Chi. Cubs 6, Colorado 9
Even though the Colorado Rockies lead the National League offensively and the Chicago Cubs rank near the bottom, both teams find themselves in a similar place. The Rockies, who look to improve upon their major league-worst 16-33 road record when they begin a four-game set in Chicago on Monday, have lost 12 of their last 13 away from home. That stretch, along with a 3-6 mark since the All-Star break, has Colorado (43-61) only a half-game ahead of Chicago (42-61) for the worst record in the NL.
The Rockies lead the majors in batting average (.282) and the NL in runs (497), but many of their road woes can be traced to an offense that is hitting .243 and has scored 178 runs in 49 games away from home – the second-lowest road total in the majors. The Cubs wouldn’t mind seeing those struggles continue after they were shut out for the 12th time this season in Sunday’s 1-0 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals. Chicago, which is tied for 28th in batting average (.237) and ranks 27th in the majors with 397 runs, is 2-6 in its last eight home games and 4-15 over its last 19 contests overall.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), CSN Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Yohan Flande (0-2, 7.20 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Tsuyoshi Wada (0-1, 5.00)
Flande did not surrender a home run for the third straight time, but remained winless after four outings following a no-decision in Tuesday’s 7-4 loss to the Washington Nationals. The 28-year-old Dominican yielded four runs on five hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings, giving up at least four runs for the third time in his fourth career start. Flande made his only big-league start on the road on June 30 at Washington and will face the Cubs for the first time.
Making his Wrigley Field debut, Wada suffered his first career loss in an 8-3 setback against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday after giving up five runs in four-plus frames. "It seemed like he just didn't get into a rhythm. … He was constantly fidgeting and it seemed like he was trying to get loose,” Cubs manager Rick Renteria said of his 33-year-old rookie. Wada, who walked four for only the second time in 20 starts this season between Triple-A Iowa and Chicago, will face Colorado for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago’s rotation has recorded 51 quality starts, but the Cubs are only 27-24 in those contests.
2. Colorado SS Troy Tulowitzki is expected to undergo a dry needling procedure to promote healing in his left hip on Monday; the four-time All-Star is expected to need 2-3 weeks to heal.
3. The Cubs have faced a left-handed starter only 20 times this season - the third-lowest total in the majors - but are scheduled to meet a southpaw in each game of this series.
PREDICTION: Rockies 7, Cubs 5