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Chicago Cubs at Colorado Rockies Free Preview 04/21/18

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies are prepared to battle against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. NBC Sports Chicago will broadcast this NL matchup and the game gets going at 8:10 p.m. ET.

Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies Odds

Colorado (+110) is coming into this one as the underdog against Chicago (-120) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this game at 10.5 runs (+110 for the over and -130 for the under). The game’s runline odds sit at +125 for taking the Cubs -1.5 runs and -145 for the Rockies +1.5.

The Cubs are 9-8 SU and have gone 8-8 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 5.3 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going, despite having gained 0.8 units ATS. The Rockies, on the other hand, are 11-10 SU and 11-9 ATS. They’ve gained 2.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.1 units ATS.

Colorado games have had an over/under record of 9-9-2 so far in 2018. Chicago has an over/under record of 8-8.

The right-handed Yu Darvish will get the nod for the visiting Cubs. Darvish is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA and 17 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rockies this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-1, 10.38 ERA and six strikeouts over four and one-third innings).

The Rockies are sending lefty Tyler Anderson (0-0, 4.74 ERA) to the mound. Anderson has 21 punchouts and 12 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.58. Anderson did not record a start against the Cubs in 2017.

Colorado’s pitchers have yielded 5.0 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starters have a 4.61 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.88 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 8.8 K/9.

The Colorado offense is putting up 3.9 runs per contest, including 3.8 per game over its last 10 games and 4.2 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .218/.291/.394 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.

DJ LeMahieu has helped lead the Rockies’ offense this season with five home runs, 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored.

In the visiting dugout, Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starters own a 4.95 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 8.35 K/9. The bullpen has an outstanding ERA of just 2.76, along with a WHIP of 1.53 and a K-per-9 of 8.92.

The Cubs offense has slashed .257/.351/.432 on its way to 5.8 runs scored per game this year, including 6.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 8.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).

Chicago’s offense has been spearheaded by Kris Bryant so far. Bryant is hitting .333/.471/.561 with 22 hits, 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored. He performed well against lefties on the road last season. Across 84 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .348/.488/.561 (compared to his overall season line of .295/.409/.537).

The Cubs just took the previous game in the series by a score of 16 runs to five.

Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies Free MLB Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Rockies, ATS Winner – Rockies, O/U – OVER

Notes

Betting Notes

The over has cashed in three of Colorado’s last seven games.

The Cubs have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rockies have hit 12 over their last 10.

Colorado has recorded 17.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 18.6 over its last five.

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Written by GMS Previews

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