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Cubs @ Colorado: Darvish vs. Márquez (Game 65)
CHC (37-27): RHP Yu Darvish (2-3, 4.88 ERA)
COL (33-31): RHP German Márquez (6-3, 4.07 ERA)
First pitch 7:40pmCDT
Coming off the home sweep of the Cardinals, the Cubs fly west for a three-game set at altitude. Yu Darvish is set to be the first potential victim of Coors. Yu's had a solid stretch marred only by that Cincinnati game that came apart in the 8th inning. His last start came against the Rockies at home. He surrendered three runs, two earned, on three walks and three hits in 5.1 innings pitched. The Rockies did all that damage in the 6th before Kintzler managed to strand two runners belonging to Yu. Darvish has pitched one game in Colorado in his career and he allowed five runs on five hits and four walks. The Rockies have better stats at home, but they are right around league average with the park factored in (101 wRC+). That's still a marked improvement, as they are 29th in the majors on the road by the same measure (73 wRC+).The Cubs got to Márquez last time out for eight(!) earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched. David Bote mashed a 3-run homerun off of German in fifth and a 3-run double off of Rusin in the sixth (all three baserunners were inherited). If Bote had taken an 0-for instead of having himself a day, Márquez's ERA still might be hovering around 3. Bully for Bote! The Cubs looked quite hitter-ish this weekend they must be champing at the bit to take their swings in Coors. Márquez has far preferred the road, allowing far more contact (.314 average vs. .187) and power (.451 slugging vs. .287) at home. The Cubs' offense has been 4th best in the majors on the road with a 114 wRC+ (or third best if you prefer OPS, .817).
I set the over-under for game time at four hours and five minutes.
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