by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Apr 16, 2022
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Coors Field, Denver, CO
Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Rockies -135, Cubs +115
BetMGM: Check back later
Caesars: Rockies -135, Cubs +115
Season record
Cubs: 4-3
Rockies: 5-2
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Cubs - Rockies preview and analysis
When’s the last time the Colorado Rockies had this much excitement surrounding them? It’s had to been a minute, right? Maybe not so far back since their World Series run, but even through just seven games, with a series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers under their belt, it has to be a fun time right now in Denver.
And now coming off a 6-5 win against the Chicago Cubs in the second game of their four-game series at Coors Field, things are clicking at every level for the Rockies right now. Kris Bryant is proving to be a hitting machine with the Rockies right now, and they’re getting contributions every night when they least expect it.
Alan Trejo hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to give Colorado a 5-3 lead that they did not relinquish to get the one-run win. C.J. Cron homered in the bottom of the fifth to continue his solid start, and Bryant went 2-for-4 to push his batting average to .379 to start.
"It feels great to contribute finally, getting in the lineup and helping the team," Trejo said after not playing in the first six games of the season.
This was a matchup highlighted on the pitching matchup between Marcus Stroman and German Marquez. But in a 6-5 game, only Marquez went into the fifth inning before getting pulled. The Rockies’ ace was rocked for 10 hits and gave up four runs. Stroman lasted just four innings and gave up five runs while striking out four.
It came down to a battle of bullpens, which Colorado’s was the better unit on this date. Chicago gave Stroman a 3-0 lead to work with after three innings before that five-run fourth that set everything in limbo.
“When guys bend but don’t break, you usually get wins,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “We were a couple at-bats from that game going in the other direction. … The consistency of performance is what we need for six months. And today, a couple guys picked each other up and we got the victory.”
That same mantra can apply to the Cubs, as well, knowing they’re succeeding early with plenty of room left to grow in both ends. Wilson Contreras went 3-for-5, and Patrick Wisdom went 2-for-2 with an RBI double in the ninth to pull the game within one. Chicago just ran out of gas at the worst time.
"It started with a soft single from (Kris Bryant)," manager David Ross said of Stroman's fourth inning. "I thought the real turning point was when he fell off the mound. I feel like he's a rhythm pitcher that's where he didn't regroup after that."
The Cubs are, really, a two-headed rotation monster with Stroman and Kyle Hendricks, that anything beyond them is a huge question mark. If those two have even a rough day, there’s nothing that can be considered reliable after that.
Prediction
Seiya Suzuki got a day off after his hot start, and he’ll be back in the lineup likely on Saturday. That’s going to help the Cubs’ bats, but they’re going to need a good start from Mark Leiter Jr. in order to have a shot. The Rockies will send Antonio Senzatela to the mound after a strong first start this season, and I’d venture that the proven pitcher. Rockies win 6-4
Betting trends
Cubs are 43-50 when the ML is between +125 and -125 the past three seasons.
Cubs are 18-15 against NL West teams the past three seasons.
Rockies are 28-17 at home when the ML is between +125 and -125 the past three seasons.
Projected lineup
Cubs:
Rafael Ortega (L) DH
Frank Schwindel (R) 1B
Willson Contreras (R) C
Ian Happ (S) LF
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Jason Heyward (L) CF
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Jonathan Villar (S) 2B
Nico Hoerner (R) SS
Mark Leiter Jr. (RHP)
Rafael Ortega (L) DH
Frank Schwindel (R) 1B
Willson Contreras (R) C
Ian Happ (S) LF
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Jason Heyward (L) CF
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Jonathan Villar (S) 2B
Nico Hoerner (R) SS
Mark Leiter Jr. (RHP)
Rockies:
Connor Joe (R) LF
Charlie Blackmon (L) RF
Kris Bryant (R) DH
C.J. Cron (R) 1B
Brendan Rodgers (R) 2B
Randal Grichuk (R) CF
Elias Diaz (R) C
Jose Iglesias (R) SS
Garrett Hampson (R) 3B
Antonio Senzatela (RHP)
Connor Joe (R) LF
Charlie Blackmon (L) RF
Kris Bryant (R) DH
C.J. Cron (R) 1B
Brendan Rodgers (R) 2B
Randal Grichuk (R) CF
Elias Diaz (R) C
Jose Iglesias (R) SS
Garrett Hampson (R) 3B
Antonio Senzatela (RHP)
Statistical leaders
Cubs:
Batting average: Ian Happ -- .429
Hits: Ian Happ -- 9
Home runs: Seiya Suzuki -- 3
RBI: Seiya Suzuki -- 10
Wins: Four tied -- 1
Saves: David Robertson -- 2
ERA: Justin Steele -- 1.93
Rockies:
Batting average: Kris Bryant -- .379
Hits: Kris Bryant -- 11
Home runs: C.J. Cron -- 3
RBI: C.J. Cron -- 7
Wins: Jhoulys Chacin -- 2
Saves: Daniel Bard -- 3
ERA: German Marquez -- 3.97
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
