Series Preview: Colorado Rockies vs Chicago Cubs

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Apr 10, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder C. Dickerson (6) scores a run past Chicago Cubs catcher W. Castillo (5) in the fifth inning at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies visit the Chicago Cubs, seeing their NL Central foe for the first time since the Rockies’ home opener back in April. 

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The Colorado Rockies are absolutely excited about going on this road trip to Chicago and St. Louis… right?

Two playoff-bound clubs (well, barring something weird) with the way the Rockies hit away from Coors — and the way the Cardinals have been playing, well, they’ll be looking for revenge after the Rockies embarrassed them in Denver a few weeks ago.

But we’ll get to the Cardinals in a couple days when their series comes up. First things first: the Chicago Cubs. Let’s take a look at this club, which actually has a couple different former Colorado Rockies hangin’ around the roster right now.

As always, here are your probable pitchers, along with keys for the Rockies as they take on this solid National League Central club helmed by the ever-innovative and fun Joe Maddon.

DATES, TIMES, AND PITCHERS (all times MT)

Monday, July 27, 6:05 pm
Jorge De La Rosa (6-4, 4.62) vs.  Kyle Hendricks (4-5, 3.66)

Tuesday, July 28, 6:05 pm
TBD (-) vs.  TBD (-)

Wednesday, July 29, 12:20 pm
Eddie Butler (3-6, 4.77) vs.  Jon Lester (5-8, 3.32)

Next: Four Keys For The Rockies

Apr 12, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder C. Blackmon (19) singles in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

SERIES KEYS FOR THE ROCKIES

This is the end of the road for…

Fill in the blank? Maybe the Rockies will trade somebody during this series in Chicago. Maybe not. Maybe it’ll be somebody huge! (Troy Tulowitzki?) Maybe it won’t. (Daniel Descalso?)

Either way, teams are auditioning players and scouting hard across the big leagues right now, and there are a lot of clubs who believe they need some help during the playoff push of the next two months. Some member of the Rockies who enters Wrigley Field on Monday night may leave before the team does Wednesday evening…

And the fifth starter will be…

We wrote about this yesterday afternoon in a post, and likely by the time this series preview goes up, we’ll (probably) have the answer, but the Rockies are going to need a starter by Tuesday night. Will it be Jon Gray time? Could it be Yohan Flande? Maybe Aaron Laffey or John Lannan? Ahhh, the possibilities are endless. And by endless, I mean… not at all inspiring.

Stay hot, Charlie Blackmon

Charlie Blackmon has been the table setter for the Rockies this season, and even more so in the past couple weeks (we all remember his walk off wild pitch winner on Friday night against the Reds). Can that continue on the road trip?

The Rockies never hit on the road (are you new here?), so it’s important to set the table at the top of the lineup and hope for happy accidents along the way as, most likely, the three-run homers aren’t coming.

Blackmon’s Friday night ninth inning bunt-then-steal-then-move-over-on-a-groundout-then-score-on-a-wild-pitch move was exactly what the Rockies need in order to put pressure on Cubs’ pitchers this series.

Who’s getting no-hit?!

The Cubs were just no-hit by Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday afternoon; which Rockies pitcher will no hit the club this week?!

Ha. Ha. Ha. Just kidding. Ok, let’s meet the Cubbies…

Next: Let's Meet The Chicago Cubs

Apr 12, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder D. Fowler (24) and catcher W. Castillo (5) celebrate the win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Cubs defeated the Rockies 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s Meet The Cubs

Hey, so the Chicago Cubs are actually contenders this season and have an inside shot at a Wild Card spot in the National League. Jason Hammel, the former Rockie, is throwing his face off for the Cubbies, and other former Rockies Jonathan Herrera and Dexter Fowler are doin’ the damn thing, too.

You already know a little bit about this club (remember the Opening Series in Denver back in April?), but let’s get to know them now that it’s nearly August:

Rockies @ Cubs Preview (MLB.com).
Good and important numbers here on both the Rockies’ and Cubs’ lineups against the opposing pitchers for the Monday night games (De La Rosa and Hendricks).

Cubs on the wrong side of history (Cubbies Crib).
You can say that again. Remember, the Cubs hadn’t been no hit 50 years.

The cost of trading for Price or Hamels (Cubbies Crib).
The Cubs fancy themselves contenders this year (and they are, well, at least for a spot in the playoffs). Wouldn’t that be something if Hamels no-hits them on a Saturday, and gets traded to the club by Wednesday night? Hey, no better audition than a no-hitter though, right?

Rookies Soler, Russell, Bryant look to improve in second half (ESPN.com).
The Rockies have every right to be excited about some of the young players toeing the line (and close to toeing the line) on the big league roster, but my Lord do the Cubs have an embarrassment of riches in young big league talent. It must be fun to be over there for an old guy-turned-young guy like Joe Maddon.

Olympian Shawn Johnson got engaged at a Cubs game (FOX Sports).
Gymnast Shawn Johnson got engaged and of course social media and everybody was there to capture it. That’s pretty cute though. Good for her (and her Kansas City Chiefs’ long snapper boyfriend-turned-fiance).

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