Rockies vs Cubs Preview: Heroic Pitching in Coors Field Clash

The Cubs just beat Colorado hard three games in a row. The first game? A 9-3 blowout where the Cubs' bats woke up. Bregman and Suzuki crushed home runs. The second game went down to the wire at 2-3, but Colorado pulled it off. Then the Cubs came roaring back with a 7-3 win behind Goodman and Tovar's power hits. Now Chicago is riding a three-game winning streak heading into Tuesday. The Cubs are 37-34 overall and playing lights-out at home (20-15). Meanwhile, Colorado is struggling at 26-45 and losing games left and right (down three straight). This is a huge chance for the Cubs to keep rolling at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs are sending Shota Imanaga to the mound Tuesday. He's an All-Star pitcher who came from Japan and is ranked 62nd in baseball. His 3.6 ERA and sharp control make him tough to hit. Colorado counters with Michael Lorenzen, a veteran who's bounced around to five different teams. His 3.96 ERA and 1.21 WHIP show he's a solid starter but nothing flashy. Imanaga has been the steadier hand all season. The Cubs need him locked in at Wrigley, where wind and short distances reward power pitching. Lorenzen will have to be surgical with his pitches to keep Colorado in the game.

The Rockies are 0-3 against the Cubs in their last three meetings. Goodman and Tovar smashed home runs in that final loss. Now Colorado needs to bounce back Tuesday, but they're missing key outfielders. Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck, and Mickey Moniak are all hurt. Jake McCarthy is fighting illness. That's a lot of firepower sitting out. Michael Lorenzen has to keep Colorado in the game with smart pitching. If the Rockies' remaining bats wake up—guys like Goodman and Tovar who showed power recently—they could steal one at Wrigley. The Cubs' home crowd will be loud, but baseball is won by who scores more runs, and the Rockies know they need to find a way.

Chicago is 37-34 and in the hunt. They just won three straight and are playing great at home. Every win at Wrigley gets them closer to staying in contention. They want to challenge Milwaukee for the division crown. The pitching staff led by Imanaga needs to keep clicking if the Cubs want to make a postseason run. Defense, balance, and lineup depth are their identity. Colorado's injuries mean the Cubs should be able to control this game. But baseball always has surprises. If the Rockies' power hitters get hot, they could make it ugly. The Cubs need to trust Imanaga and play sharp defense to extend their winning streak and keep pace in a tight National League Central race.

You're going to see a Cubs team hungry to keep winning at home. The crowd at Wrigley will be electric. Imanaga will need to trust his stuff and paint corners against a desperate Rockies lineup. Watch for power from Goodman and Tovar if Colorado gets runners in scoring position. The Cubs' defense and balance should shine Tuesday. If Imanaga locks in early, the Cubs control the pace. If Lorenzen can steal early innings and keep it close, maybe Colorado finds a way back into it. Either way, expect the Cubs' home crowd to make noise. The Rockies are hungry to snap their losing streak. Buckle up—this matchup at Wrigley has all the ingredients for a classic Cubs-Rockies battle under the evening lights.

Look at the records. Chicago is 37-34 and clearly the better team right now. Colorado is 26-45—that's a nine-game difference in the loss column. At Wrigley, the Cubs are 20-15. That's solid home baseball. Colorado brings a 14-20 road record into this hostile environment. The Cubs just swept Colorado in three straight games. They outscored the Rockies 19-8 over those three games combined. That's dominant. Michael Lorenzen will have his hands full against a Cubs lineup that just woke up. Shota Imanaga is locked in and ranked among the league's best. This matchup heavily favors Chicago, but Colorado plays with nothing to lose—sometimes that's the most dangerous team in baseball.