Getting the start for the Rockies (56-97, 22-57 away) will be Chris Flexen against Marcus Stroman for the Cubs (80-74, 43-36 home). Today marks game two of their series, with the Cubs currently holding the 1-0 lead. Read on to see my best bet for this Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago Cubs matchup.

COLORADO ROCKIES VS CHICAGO CUBS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Colorado Rockies +1.5 Runs

This game will be played at Wrigley Field at 2:20 ET on Saturday, September 23rd.

WHY BET THE COLORADO ROCKIES:

  • The Rockies will be taking on a Cubs club that is just 1-2 vs. the runline in their last three games.
  • In their last ten games as the underdog, the Rockies have put together a runline record of 7-3.
  • Opponents are hitting a healthy .378 against Marcus Stroman in his last three starts.

COLORADO ROCKIES SEEK TO IMPROVE THEIR ROAD RECORD

For the season, the Rockies have put together a record of 56-97 and are 5th in the NL West, putting them 38 games out of first place. Colorado’s overall series record sits at 16-30-3. On the road, they have gone 22-57 and 34-40 at home.

Chris Flexen has made 27 appearances this season, with a .547 slugging percentage allowed and a 1.71 WHIP. His record stands at 1-8, and his ERA is 7.19. He has 70 strikeouts so far, averaging 6.9 per nine innings pitched. Flexen’s road record is 1-3 with an ERA of 1.28, while his home record is 0-5 with an ERA of 6.02.

Chris Flexen’s most recent start ended in a Rockies defeat, as the Giants emerged victorious 11-10. The righty allowed four runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings of work.

This season, the Rockies are 20th in the league at 4.4 runs per game. Over their last five games, they have a combined batting average of .239 (18th) leading to 4.2 runs per contest. Overall, they are generating 2.8 walks per game compared to 9 strikeouts. Colorado’s on-base percentage of .310 has them 17th in the MLB.

Nolan Jones has been a major offensive contributor for the Rockies this season, as evidenced by his 17 home runs and .284 batting average. Over the team’s last five games, he has led the way with one long ball.

WILL THE CHICAGO CUBS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

154 games into the season, the Cubs have a record of 80-74, putting them 2nd in the NL Central. This mark includes an overall series 25-18-6. At home, they are 43-36 compared to 37-38 on the road.

Today marks Marcus Stroman’s 26th outing of the season, with a 10-8 record and 3.76 ERA to his name. He has held opponents to a .291 OBP while striking out 115 batters and maintaining a 1.23 WHIP. On the road, Stroman’s ERA is 4.85, while at home it stands at 4.79.

Marcus Stroman was unable to secure a win in the Cubs’ 7-6 loss to the Diamondbacks, despite a strong performance. The right-hander allowed just one run over one inning of work, but was unable to get the decision.

For the season, the Cubs are 8th in batting average, hitting a combined .255. Over their last ten games, they have hit .280 which is 2nd in that span. Chicago’s average of 5.1 runs per game puts them 7th in the league. In terms of home runs, they have gone deep 187 times and have a team slugging percentage of .421.

Cody Bellinger is the home-run king for the Cubs in 2023, having blasted 26 long balls and driving in 94 runs. His slugging percentage is a robust .538 for the season.