Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies preview, Tuesday 5/1, 7:05 CT

Notes on another warm, windy Chicago afternoon:

• Cubs starting pitchers have not allowed an earned run in five straight starts for the first time since June 25-28, 1912 at Cincinnati (four games) and vs. Pittsburgh. (H/T: Ed Hartig)
• More starting pitching: After beginning the season with just seven quality starts and a 5.27 ERA (57 ER/97⅓ IP) in the club’s first 19 games, Cubs starting pitchers have gone 4-1 with a 0.79 ERA (4 ER/45⅔ IP) in the last seven games.
• Even more starting pitching: The starters have gone 33⅔ consecutive innings without giving up an earned run, the rotation’s longest stretch since at least 1974. (H/T STATS Inc.) This marks the longest run by any team’s rotation since the Nationals staff went 47⅓ straight innings without allowing an earned run in June, 2015.
• Neither the Cubs nor their opponent have homered in the last four games. That’s the longest streak without a homer at Wrigley Field by either team since a five-game run from April 12-23, 2012.
• The Cubs have 10 triples so far this season, tied for the most in the majors with the Diamondbacks. The 10 triples prior to May 1 are the Cubs’ most since 1926 (12 triples).

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Rockies lineup:

Kyle Hendricks, RHP vs. Jon Gray, RHP

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight’s game is a pitching rematch of the game April 20 in Denver. Kyle Hendricks threw well enough (five innings, three runs) to put his team in position to win. The Cubs hit Jon Gray pretty well: eight hits, seven runs (six earned), including a home run by Javier Baez.

Both have made one start since that game. Hendricks threw seven outstanding shutout innings against the Brewers April 26 at Wrigley Field: four hits, no walks.

Gray also had an excellent start in his last outing, April 26 against the Padres: six shutout innings, 11 strikeouts.

It’s going to be warm with the wind blowing out again tonight, and a bit more humid, so the balls should be carrying better. Keep the ball down, Kyle.

Today’s game is on WGN. It’s also on MLB Network (outside the Chicago and Denver markets).

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

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The 2018 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2017. Here's how it works.

You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream as noted above.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.