|
 Colorado has beaten the Cubs in 13 of the last 17 games in Denver
and hopes the trend continues as it aims to win its home opener for
the third consecutive year. Chicago picked up its first win of the
new campaign with a 2-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on
Wednesday afternoon. Jake Arrieta struck out seven over seven
scoreless innings and Starlin Castro hit a key RBI single to hand
new manager Joe Maddon his first win since leaving the Tampa Bay
Rays in the offseason. "Hector (Rondon) gave me the ball at the end
of the game," Maddon told reporters. "That was very sweet of him,
but I want us to expect to do this a lot more often."
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), ROOT Sports (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Travis Wood (2014: 8-13, 5.03 ERA) vs.
Rockies LH Tyler Matzek (2014: 6-11, 4.05 ERA)
Wood looks to bounce back from a sub-par 2014 campaign which saw him
set career-highs in ERA (5.03) and WHIP (1.53). The 28-year-old
dropped eight of his final nine decisions and saw increases in his
walk rate and home run rate over 2013 as well. "I feel like every
pitcher has to prove himself every fifth day, to go out and prove
that you still got it and you still can do it," Wood told reporters.
"The moment you let that fire fade away, that's when it sneaks up
and gets you."
Matzek exceeded expectations in his first season in the big leagues
and hopes to build off that momentum with a jump in production. The
rookie recorded 91 strikeouts across 117 2/3 innings over 19 starts
while boasting a 22-inning scoreless streak, but allowed eight runs
in 12 innings of work in spring training. "It's a huge opportunity,
not many guys can say they started a home opener," Matzek told
reporters. I'll give it my all as I just want to start the season
off at home with a win."
[to top of second column] |
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rockies racked up 38 hits, including 16 doubles, in the sweep
of the Brewers.
2. Colorado LF Corey Dickerson batted .417 with two home runs and
six RBIs in his first three games of the season.
3. Chicago can climb above .500 for the first time since Apr. 4,
2013.
PREDICTION: Rockies 8, Cubs 5
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
