Three things to know about the Colorado Rockies, Chicago Cubs as the Cubs come to Coors Field

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 29: Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs looks on before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on July 29, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

It has been a long time since the Chicago Cubs faced the Colorado Rockies, especially since the two teams are both in the National League.

In fact, the last time the two teams faced each other was on June 12, 2019, meaning that there were 782 days in-between visits with the two teams. Now, they will face each other six times in the next 22 days.

Since then, both the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs have vastly changed.

Here are three things that you should know about the two teams since they last played each other.

You may only recognize a few Chicago Cubs players

In the three weeks, the Chicago Cubs have traded first baseman Anthony Rizzo, shortstop Javier Baez, third baseman Kris Bryant, outfielder Joc Pederson, outfielder Jake Marisnick, closer Craig Kimbrel, starting pitcher Trevor Williams, and relievers Ryan Tepera and Andrew Chafin.

So, in general, they are a “new-look” team but there are even more players that were on the Cubs back in 2019 that have long since been gone.

In that last series between the two teams in June 2019, the Cubs had outfielders Kyle Schwarber, former Rockies All-Star Carlos Gonzalez, Addison Russell, Cole Hamels, former Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood, and All-Star starting pitcher Yu Darvish appear for them. They have all long since moved on with other teams and/or out of baseball.

In fact, the only Cubs that are still on the team that appeared in that series are catcher Willson Contreras, outfielder Jason Heyward, and Colorado native David Bote (starter Kyle Hendricks was with the team but didn’t appear in the series).

Sep 2, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) singles in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

The Colorado Rockies have a lot of changes as well

This was the Colorado Rockies starting lineup when they last faced the Chicago Cubs

Charlie Blackmon, RF
Trevor Story, SS
David Dahl, LF
Nolan Arenado, 3B
Ian Desmond, CF
Mark Reynolds, 1B
Brendan Rodgers, 2B
Tony Wolters, C
Antonio Senzatela, SP

Only Blackmon, Story, Rodgers, and Senzatela are still with the Rockies (Desmond, technically, is but considering that he opted out of both the 2020 and 2021 season and will not be coming back in 2022, he’s not really a Colorado Rockie, per se). Rodgers was just playing in his 20th MLB game that day.

Senzatela got shelled for eight runs (six earned) in 4+ innings. The relievers for Senzatela? Jake McGee, Bryan Shaw, Phillip Diehl, and Carlos Estevez. You probably didn’t want to ever think of that bullpen again (sorry!).

On the positive side of things, only Diehl gave up any runs as McGee, Shaw, and Estevez combined for four shutout frames (surprising, I know).

Chris Iannetta also saw action in the game as a pinch-hitter, and we know that he has long since been out of the Rockies system.

In the previous game, Peter Lambert made his second career MLB start and the first one came against the Cubs at Wrigley Field the week before. He is currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and hopes to return to the MLB mound by the end of this season.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 17: Rex Brothers #48 of the Chicago Cubs delivers a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 17, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

An old friend will be returning to Coors Field but now, against the Colorado Rockies

Former Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Rex Brothers will be returning to Coors Field for the first time in nearly four years. He last pitched in a game at Coors Field on August 16, 2017, when the Rockies crushed the Atlanta Braves in a 17-2 game.

The Rockies offense was fueled by DJ LeMahieu’s four hits, Gerardo Parra’s four hits and four RBI, Mark Reynolds’ three hits and four RBI, and Trevor Story’s three hits, a walk, and six RBI. Story, mired in a season-long sophomore slump, was hitting .223 on the season and he was hitting eighth in the Rockies lineup.

Ryan McMahon also appeared as a pinch-hitter in the game, which was his third MLB ever.

Brothers was the only Braves pitcher not to allow a run as he pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Brothers, 33, pitched for the Rockies in the majors from 2011 through 2015. He struggled with injuries so the Rockies let him go. This season, he has appeared in 41 games for the Cubs (which is the most for him since he appeared in 74 games for the Rockies in 2014) and he has an ERA of 4.81, a FIP of 4.25, and he is striking out nearly 14 batters per nine innings.

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While neither the Colorado Rockies nor the Chicago Cubs are in playoff contention this year, there will be some good games at Coors Field during this series, as Zach Davies will oppose Kyle Freeland on Tuesday, Alec Mills v. Jon Gray on Wednesday, and Jake Arrieta vs. TBD on Thursday.

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You may only recognize a few Chicago Cubs players

The Colorado Rockies have a lot of changes as well

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An old friend will be returning to Coors Field but now, against the Colorado Rockies