Cubs aim for payback against host Rockies
If only temporarily, the Cubs’ fairytale season took a turn into dark territory yesterday.
In addition to dropping a 7-6 verdict to Colorado, the NL Central leaders were forced to put hurlers John Lackey and Hector Rondon on the disabled list. Manager Joe Maddon is eager to flip the page tonight, with an 8:10 p.m. ET first pitch at Coors Field. Online sports book BetDSI gives the visiting team odds of -150 to return to the win column. The Rockies, on the other hand, are +135 underdogs.
While logic suggests Chicago won’t suffer back-to-back letdowns, a certain unknown exists on the mound. Lackey’s replacement, Mike Montgomery, will make his first start for the Cubbies. The lefty has made seven relief appearances since arriving from Seattle on July 20. He holds an 8-11 record with a 1.32 WHIP in 55 career outings.
Montgomery’s counterpart doesn’t exactly have the big-league routine down either. Walt Weiss turns to Jeff Hoffman, who’s preparing for his MLB debut. The former top prospect went 6-9 with a 4.02 ERA and 124 strikeouts at Triple-A Albuquerque. Efficiency was frequently a problem, however, as Hoffman failed to work past the sixth in 16 of 22 contests.
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Needless to say, this evening’s offensive output could boggle the mind. Lean on the Cubs to get back on track, though, and pay particular attention to Dexter Fowler. The center fielder relishes playing in Denver, as evidenced by that .298 lifetime batting average in the high altitude.
SATURDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS -1.5