NEWSLETTER
Important thing to remember before the finale in Colorado this afternoon:
The 2021 Colorado Rockies, who were terrible, were 48-33 at home. When playing at Coors Field, they were the 6th best team in baseball. Again, that was the terrible, terrible, 2021 Colorado Rockies. (Same story in 2019.)
They are simply a different team in Denver. Remember that.
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) April 17, 2022
Drew Smyly gets the ball this Easter Sunday, looking to build on a strong regular season debut against the Pirates (five scoreless innings with just 3 hits and no walks). Smyly was a weak contact, groundball MACHINE in that game and same approach would play just swell in Colorado today.
A split would be a perfectly wonderful outcome (and it would keep the Cubs above .500). So let’s see it.
Oh, wait, check this out:
MLB Avg. FB%: 48.7%
Seiya Avg. FB%: 56.3%MLB Avg. FB velo: 93.5 MPH
Seiya Avg. FB velo: 94.1 MPHMLB O-Swing%: 30.7%
Seiya O-Swing%: 13.0%MLB Whiff%: 11.5%
Seiya Whiff%: 4.7%MLB Slash: .233/.311/.381 (100 wRC+)
Seiya Slash: .409/.533/.909 (273 wRC+)It's going well. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/ZscVdn2h7B
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) April 17, 2022
Okay … Go Cubs.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (4-4) at Colorado Rockies (6-2) – Sunday, April 17 at 2:10 CT on Marquee, 670 The Score
Bet of the Day:
Austin Gomber is not much of a groundball pitcher, especially against righties, so I’m thinking today is a good day to bet on a home run from someone in the Cubs lineup. Typically, I like to go with guys closer to the top of the order (they might get one extra chance to go deep), but most of the Cubs power is concentrated in the center of the lineup. I don’t think you can go wrong with Willson Contreras (who doesn’t have to catch today), Seiya Suzuki, who is a stud, or even Patrick Wisdom, who’s got six hits in his last seven at-bats, including four doubles. If he’s locking in right now, that first long ball of 2022 might be just around the corner.
Starting Pitchers
Rockies: Austin Gomber (L)
versus
Cubs: Drew Smyly (L)
Chicago Cubs (Lineup Discussion):
1. Clint Frazier, LF
2. Nick Madrigal, 2B
3. Willson Contreras, DH
4. Frank Schwindel, 1B
5. Seiya Suzuki, RF
6. Yan Gomes, C
7. Patrick Wisdom, 3B
8. Michael Hermosillo, CF
9. Nico Hoerner, SS
Colorado Rockies:
1. Connor Joe, LF
2. Kris Bryant, DH
3. C.J. Cron, 1B
4. Elias Díaz, C
5. Ryan McMahon, 3B
6. Brendan Rodgers, 2B
7. Randal Grichuk, RF
8. José Iglesias, SS
9. Yonathan Daza, CF
