The Colorado Rockies are in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs for a three game series. Colorado finally got their offense going on Sunday against the Cardinals after being shut the first two games of the series. They will be looking to repeat and build upon Sundays performance. It has been a rough couple of years for the Cubs as they have been in a rebuilding phase and they are starting to show signs that they are going to contend in the years to come. They have some young talent that is starting to shine and they are building a strong pitching staff which they will need against the tough hitters in the National League Central. On the year the Cubs have a 15-22 record and the Rockies are 20-17.
The Cubs are led offensively by future star Anthony Rizzo who leads the team with a .280 average, nine home runs, 28 RBI, and a .352 on base percentage. The Cubs also have a premier player in Starlin Castro who mans the shortstop position. He is currently hitting .272 with three home runs and 17 RBI. Both Castro and Rizzo are 23 years old and they are the pieces that the Cubs will look to build around in hopes of climbing out of the cellar and making a run at the World Series crown. Rizzo was signed yesterday to a seven year 44 million dollar deal that will make him a Cub until the 2020 season. Last year the Cubs signed Castro to an eight year 60 million dollar deal so both players will be with the club through the 2019 season.
The Cubs have some good young arms mixed with some veterans. Lefty Travis Wood (26), right handed Jeff Samardzija (28), and right handed Scott Feldman (30) make up the top three starters for the Cubs on the year. Feldman leads the team with three wins, while Travis Wood leads the team with a 2.33 ERA, and Samardzija leads the team with 57 strikeouts on the year. The Rockies will face Travis Wood on Monday night and Jeff Samardzija on Wednesday. Tuesday they will be facing Carlos Villanueva (1-2, 3.02 ERA) on Tuesday.
The Cubs lineup for Monday is as follows:
1. David Dejesus, CF
2. Starlin Castro, SS
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Alfonso Soriano, LF
5. Nate Schierholtz, RF
6. Cody Ransom, 3B
7. Wellington Castillo, C
8. Darwin Barney, 2B
9. Travis Wood, P
The Rockies lineup is:
1. Eric Young Jr, CF
2. Josh Rutledge, 2B
3. Carlos Gonzalez, LF
4. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
5. Wilin Rosario, C
6. Todd Helton, 1B
7. Nolan Arenado, 3B
8. Charlie Blackmon, RF
9. Juan Nicasio, P
The Rockies have played 160 career games heading into the series and their all-time record is 79-81. At Wrigley Field the Rockies have gone 35-42. They will be looking to improve that record tonight and make a statement that they are here to stay. First pitch tonight is at 6:05 PM Mountain Time.
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