Rockies at Cubs
The Chicago Cubs’ offense remains sporadic, but it won’t matter if their pitching staff continues what it is doing. Right-hander Kyle Hendricks looks to extend the Cubs’ string of strong pitching as Chicago hosts the Colorado Rockies for the second of a three-game series Tuesday.
The Cubs have won five straight games despite scoring three or fewer runs in each for the first time in franchise history. They’re the first major league team to do so since Milwaukee in 2011. The Rockies are looking to avoid their first four-game losing streak of the season. They’ll need to get their bats going to do so, as they’ve scored only four runs in their past four games and are without one of their top hitters after placing second baseman DJ LeMahieu (hamstring) on the disabled list Monday.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (2-4, 5.79 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (2-1, 3.10)
Gray is looking to string together consecutive quality starts for the first time this season. The 26-year-old is coming off his best start of the season, as he struck out 11 and allowed three hits over six scoreless innings to beat San Diego on Wednesday. Gray was tagged for seven runs (six earned) in five innings in his first career start against the Cubs on April 20.
Hendricks is aiming for his third straight win after throwing seven innings of four-hit ball in a 1-0 win over Milwaukee on Thursday. The 28-year-old has posted quality starts in three of his five outings this season, and after uncharacteristically issuing seven walks across his first three starts, he has not walked a batter his last two times out. Hendricks is 2-2 with a 4.20 ERA in seven starts against the Rockies, including a win April 20.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs have gone four straight games without a home run for the first time since Sept. 1-5, 2016.
2. Rockies CF Charlie Blackmon is 10-for-31 during an eight-game hitting streak at Wrigley Field, and 3B Nolan Arenado is 20-for-47 in his last 12 games against the Cubs.
3. Cubs starting pitchers have not allowed an earned run in 33 2/3 innings – the club’s longest such streak since at least 1974.