The Chicago Cubs, head back to Wrigley after losing the series to the Texas Rangers 1-2, after taking the series finale Sunday 9-5. They will play the Colorado Rockies in their home opener. The Rockies lost their four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks 1-3 games they allowed 32 runs to the Diamondbacks in the four-game set.
Chicago Cubs (1-2) vs Colorado Rockies (1-3)
Game 1:
Date: Monday, April, 1st
Time: 2:20 PM
Broadcast: MLB Network
Game 2:
Date: Tuesday, April, 2nd
Time: 7:40 PM
Broadcast: Marquee Sports Network
Game 3:
Date: Wednesday, April, 3rd
Time: 7:40 PM
Broadcast: Colorado Sport Network
Probable Starters
Game 1: Shota Imanaga (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Dakota Hudson (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
The Cubs are giving the ball to prized free agent signing from the offseason Shota Imanaga. The left-hand pitcher this spring pitched 12.2 innings with a 5.68 ERA and a 2-2 record. During those four starts this spring he walked three, struck out 25, and had a 1.66 WHIP. Giving up 18 hits and eight earned runs this spring was a concern, but the swing-and-miss stuff is there he just needs to limit the hits and he should be in for a great game with this favorable matchup. The Rockies will have Dakota Hudson on the bump Monday. This spring Hudson started five games for the Rockies with a 1-2 record over 15 innings worked and a 4.20 ERA. Hudson struggled with control this spring walking seven batters and only striking out 13. Hudson last year pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals he appeared in 18 games, started 12 of those games, and had a 6-3 record on the year. He pitched 81.1 innings, with a 4.98 ERA, and a 1.50 WHIP, striking out 45 and walking 34 batters.
Game 2: Javier Assad (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Kyle Freeland (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Javier Assad will get the start in James Taillon’s absence, this spring he appeared in five games starting three of those games without recording a win or loss on the spring. He pitched 12.2 innings of work, he had a 6.39 ERA, and a 1.74 WHIP in the spring. He walked five batters while he struck out 10 during his innings worked. Last season Assad appeared in 32 games starting 10 of them recording a 5-3 record. He pitched 109.1 innings, walking 41, striking out 94, and had a 1.23 WHIP last year. Freeland appeared in five games this spring starting them all going 19 innings with a 2-0 record and had a 2.37 ERA. He walked three, struck out 16, and with a 1.00 WHIP. Last year he started 29 games, threw 155.2 innings, and had a record of 6-14. He walked 42, truck out 94, with a 1.47 WHIP and a 5.03 ERA.
Game 3: TBD vs Cal Quantrill (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
As of right now a starter has not been named for Wednesday for the Cubs, it will either be Drew Smyly or Top Prospect Ben Brown who was just called up Saturday from Triple-A Iowa. He did pitch in the game Saturday against the Rangers giving up six runs. Cal Quantrill has one start on the year going five innings, getting the loss with a 9.00 ERA. He walked one batter, struck out one, and has a 2.00 WHIP on the year.
Team Leaders
Cubs
AVG: Ian Happ (.417)
HR: Dansby Swanson (1)
RBI: Dansby Swanson (3)
IP: Justin Steele (4.2)
ERA: Julian Merryweather (0.00)
K: Jordan Wicks/Justin Steele (6)
Rockies
Ave: Ryan McMahon (.429)
HR: Elias Diaz (1)
RBI: Charlie Blackmon (3)
IP: Ryan Feltner/Cal Quantrill (5)
ERA: Jalen Beeks (0.00)
K: Ryan Feltner (4)
MLB Ranking
Cubs
AVG: .228 (20th)
Runs: 14 (15th)
Hits: 23 (23rd)
HR: 2 (24th)
OBP: .342 (12TH)
SLG: .356 (21ST)
ERA: 5.40 (21ST)
WHIP: 1.73 (27TH)
K’S: 29 (16TH)
Rockies
AVG: .225 (21st)
Runs: 14 (15th)
Hits: 29 (15th)
HR: 3 (19th)
OBP: .289 (23rd)
SLG: .357 (20Th)
ERA: 8.18 (29TH)
WHIP: 1.91 (30TH)
K’S: 22 (28TH)
Wrap Up
The first home series of the season for the Cubs comes against a Colorado Rockies pitching staff that is very weak, which should allow the Cubs offense to take advantage. The Cubs pitching is a little uncertain right now with Justin Steele missing the month of April after suffering his hamstring injury in his first start of the season. My guess is after the game Saturday where Ben Brown allowed six runs, that you see a mix of Brown to open the game with Drew Smyly right after or vice versa. Brown being the power arm that he is before or after Drew Smyly would make sense given the stuff he throws and his velocity. I think this series will be a good one for the Cubs to bounce back from a tough weekend in Arlington. Seiya Suzuki and company will feast on the Rockies pitching at Wrigley during this three-game series.
