Rockies at Cubs
After struggling at the plate over the weekend, the Colorado Rockies might be facing the wrong pitching staff in an attempt to turn things around when they begin their three-game road series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday. The Rockies were unable to score more than one run in any contest of their three-game series at Miami and now have to face a Cubs staff that gave up a total of two during a four-game sweep of Milwaukee.
Chicago has won four straight and six of its last seven to move a season-high five games above .500. The Cubs' rotation has posted six straight quality starts and hasn’t allowed an earned run in its last 28 innings – the club’s longest such streak since 1976. Veteran Jon Lester will try to extend the streak versus a Colorado lineup that managed only one extra-base hit in three games against the Marlins. The Rockies’ pitching staff also has been solid, allowing just nine runs over the last five contests.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (1-3, 4.33 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (2-1, 3.29)
Freeland was hit in the left heel by a line drive during his last start, but he still put together his best outing of the season. The 24-year-old struck out eight and limited the Padres to three hits over seven scoreless innings. Freeland faced the Cubs last season in Colorado and lost, allowing five runs - three earned - over six frames.
Lester was a hard-luck loser last time out, as he allowed only four hits over seven innings at Cleveland - three of which were solo homers. The 34-year-old has posted quality starts in three of his last four outings. Lester is 1-3 with a 2.73 ERA in four career turns against the Rockies.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs have won four straight games despite scoring fewer than four runs in each for the first time since at least 1908.
2. Rockies RF Carlos Gonzalez (hamstring) was eligible to return from the disabled list Sunday and is expected to be back at some point during the series.
3. Chicago 3B Kris Bryant and 1B Anthony Rizzo each have been hit by a pitch seven times, tying them for the major-league lead.