Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/17/2022

Time: 3:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Coors Field, Denver, CO

Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain

DraftKings: Rockies -130, Cubs +110

BetMGM: Rockies -125, Cubs +105

Caesars: Rockies -130, Cubs +110

Cubs: 4-4

Rockies: 6-2

So, C.J. Cron loves to obliterate baseballs. He’s at least ensuring last season was not a fluke and he’s spearheading the efforts to get the Colorado Rockies to a good start in this baseball season.

Cron hit two more homers on Saturday to help pace the fun-watching Rockies to a 9-6 win over the Chicago Cubs to ensure a split in this four-game series. The teams will wrap up their set Sunday. Cron hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to cap off a four-run inning, and then added a solo shot in the seventh.

“I don’t really care,” Cron said. “I’m just trying to hit the ball hard. And wherever it goes after that, I can’t control. I guess I have natural power. And sometimes I get hold of it. It goes pretty far.”

Cron is up to a .333 average after going 2-for-4, but it’s not just him that’s making the bats exciting in Colorado. Kris Bryant went 0-for-3 but is still at a .344 average with Connor Joe after he went 2-for-4 with an RBI. The entire top of the order is raking.

Which is why it’s crazy that Cron, who has gone from the clean-up spot to the fifth spot from time to time, is so valuable. They already hit at one of the more hitter-friendly parks, but then add in the potential of the starting rotation and this could be a fun year for Colorado.

Antonio Senzatela went 5 innings and allowed just one run while striking out two for his first victory of the season. His ERA is already at a 2.16, which is something you never see from a Rockies starter no matter how early in the season it is. That’s already a promising sign, along with German Marquez.

“There’s a little awe factor,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “Probably not 1,000 feet of homers, but pretty close.

The Cubs were not short on the offensive side with 11 hits, but couldn’t take advantage of their hits like the Rockies did. The middle of their lineup, primarily Wilson Contreras and Ian Happ, did not get the kind of production that Cron and Bryant had. Patrick Wisdom went 3-for-4, and Jason Heyward and Seiya Suzuki had two hits each, but Mark Leiter Jr. lasted only 3.1 innings and gave up seven runs.

"The clubhouse knows what I'm capable of -- the hitter I am," Wisdom said after finishing his round of pregame BP on Saturday. "They know the process and they understand that this game is hard. And 20 at-bats don't define me.

"It's tough. Trust me, I don't want to go up there and do bad. I don't sleep at night. This stuff's hard and it gets at me just like anyone else."

It might not be the best way of thinking, but if you’re the Cubs, you still have to appreciate the kind of start Suzuki is on. After getting the day off on Friday, he comes back with two hits and is providing at least a minute spark in the middle of the lineup. If the Cubs can find a way to capitalize on that, things are going to look even better for this Cubs offense.

But as it appears, the pitching is in fact a concern beyond Kyle Hendricks and Marcus Stroman. They’re going to need get better outings from the rotation in order to really make some noise in the National League Central.

That is too early, much like it’s too early for the Rockies to stake some claim in the NL West, but this is why April is fun.

Austin Gomber will get the call for the Rockies in the finale, going against Drew Smyly. The Cubs haven’t seen Gomber a lot, but have had success against the left-hander, including the red-hot Contreras with a home run. If we’re looking for the Cubs to earn a split, I can see that it happens. I just don’t know if there’s enough in Gomber to get a victory. Chicago ends this on a high note. Cubs win 6-4

Cubs are 28-50 as an underdog between +100 and +150 the past three seasons.

The over is 60-53 the past three seasons when the Cubs play on the road.

Rockies are 20-9 the last three seasons when a home favorite between -125 and -175.

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
Drew Smyly (LHP) 1-0, 0.00 ERA

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
Austin Gomber (LHP) 0-0, 5.79 ERA

Batting average: Seiya Suzuki -- .409

Hits: Two tied -- 9

Home runs: Seiya Suzuki -- 3

RBI: Seiya Suzuki -- 10

Wins: Four tied -- 1

Saves: David Robertson -- 2

ERA: Justin Steele -- 1.93

Batting average: Kris Bryant -- .344

Hits: Three tied -- 11

Home runs: C.J. Cron -- 5

RBI: C.J. Cron -- 10

Wins: Jhoulys Chacin -- 2

Saves: Daniel Bard -- 4

ERA: Antonio Senzatela -- 2.16