Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies preview, Monday 6/10, 7:40 CT

Playing on the road is never easy, and the Cubs today embark on a seven-game trip to Colorado and Los Angeles, two tough places to play for any visitor. They’re on a roll, though, and hopefully that will help.

Here are some of the statistical milestones the Cubs are looking for this year... and one they’re not.

The Cubs have scored 335 runs this year and are on pace for 848. That would be the team’s most since 2008 (855) and second-most since 1970.

The Cubs have hit 102 home runs and are on pace for 258, which would shatter the franchise record of 235, set in 2004.

The Cubs have 266 walks so far this year and are on pace for 673, which would break the franchise record (656) set in 2016.

And... the Cubs have 16 stolen bases this year, tied for last in MLB with the Blue Jays. That is a pace for 41 stolen bases for the season, which would be their fewest since 1970, when that power-laden team stole just 39 bases. Jason Heyward leads the Cubs with four steals. Anthony Rizzo (!) has three. No one else has more than two. If Heyward keeps up his “pace,” he’ll lead the team with 12 steals.

Notes for tonight:

• Cubs starting pitchers have posted a 2.23 ERA (18 earned runs in 72⅔ innings) in the team’s last 11 games, holding opponents to a .191 average (48-for-251) and a .537 OPS. In that 11-game span, Cubs starters have walked 15, struck out 67 and allowed just four home runs.
• New Cub Carlos Gonzalez has played 628 games in Coors Field. That’s the second-most of any big league player, trailing only Todd Helton and his 1,141 games in the Rockies’ home ballpark.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Of course CarGo is starting against his old team. And, Victor Caratini returns to catching Yu Darvish.

Rockies lineup:

Yu Darvish, RHP vs. German Marquez, RHP

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight we have a pitching rematch from the game last Wednesday at Wrigley Field. Yu Darvish’s outing was much better than his numbers indicate, as he was thoroughly dominating the Rockies until the sixth inning. Meanwhile, the Cubs pounded German Marquez for eight runs in 5⅓ innings, including a home run by David Bote.

Marquez, for whatever it’s worth, has been worse at home (seven starts, 4.93 ERA, 1.548 WHIP in 42 innings) than on the road (seven starts, 3.33 ERA, 0.822 WHIP).

Darvish has pitched one career game in Coors Field, April 21, 2018, and it was not good: 4⅔ innings, five runs. Perhaps tonight will be better.

Today’s game is on NBC Sports Chicago.

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 2019 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used in previous years. 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.