Colorado Rockies at Chicago Cubs
Colorado gets ready to play the second game of its current three-city, seven-game road trip against National League Central opponents (Chicago and Houston) and ending the week with the first interleague series of the season against Kansas City. Manager Jim Tracey has to feel confident about making a move in the standings this week, as the three teams the Rockies are facing have a combined record of 43-70 (.381) The Rockies have found no edge in facing a certain starting pitcher thus far in 2010, going an even 7-7 versus left-handed starters and 12-11 against righties. Watch for Rockies IF/OF Ian Stewart to be instrumental in the team’s offensive success, leading all National League hitters with a .788 slugging percentage on the road.
Rockies SP Jhoulys Chacin is set to make his fourth start of the season, going 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA in four overall games (three starts). The right-hander has yet to allow a single run on the road this season, allowing seven hits and striking out 14 in 14.1 innings of work. Chacin made just nine appearances for the Rockies in 2009, producing a 0-1 record and 4.91 ERA in 11 innings. He was troubled by control issues during his first run in the majors, as he issued 11 walks in those appearances, which overshadowed the fact opponents hit just .167 against him.
Chicago has done little to gain momentum during an eight-game homestand, dropping two of three games to both the Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates. If playing outside of the division is a possible answer in turning things around, the Cubs will have an opportunity with this current 10-game stretch outside the NL Central. It’s likely a veteran team like Chicago may have some difficulty in facing a starting pitcher they’ve never faced, bringing into play the Cubs 1-16 record when plating less than four runs. This gains even more validity considering the young right-hander hasn’t give up a run away from Coors Field.
Cubs SP Carlos Silva is a perfect 4-0 with a 3.40 ERA in his first seven starts of a remarkable 2010 campaign thus far. The veteran right-hander is looking to start a season 5-0 for the first time since 2004. His pinpoint control has been showcased to opposing hitters this season, issuing just nine free passes in 42.1 innings of work. Silva has produced a terrible 8-19 record and 5.91 ERA in 57 career appearances (30 starts) in May. This troubling pattern has already shown in 2010, with his ERA climbing from 1.73 at the end of April to its current state.
Considering the Cubs have managed to score just 25 runs in the first seven games of the homestand (3.5 rpg), bettors may pay special attention to Tuesday’s total. The under is 6-1 over that span, with the only over coming in a 10-6 loss to the Pirates. Colorado hasn’t exactly lit the scoreboard on fire recently, failing to go over the number in four straight games (3.5 rpg)
