Cubs host Rockies in must-win run of games

Cubs vs. – The Cubs enter this three-game stretch with a home edge that’s been brutal for Colorado over the years. But with the Rockies losing nine of their last 13 road games and the Cubs’ own schedule tightening after this matchup, the series carries real pressure—espe

For the Cubs, it’s a familiar feeling—walking into Wrigley Field knowing the Rockies have rarely survived the building over the last few seasons. They’ve won nine straight home games against Colorado, and they’ve swept three games each of the past three years.

The numbers are loud: the Cubs have outscored the Rockies 51-21 in the matchup. including 3-1. 4-3 and 2-1 results last season. In series play at home, they’re 21-14-2 against the Rockies, and since 2000 they’re 18-6-1. That stretch has come with specific patterns too: 13-2-1 in 2000-15 and 5-1 since 2019.

Still, baseball doesn’t run on history alone. The Rockies are coming in having lost eight of 11, even if they did pull off a wild 23-9 win in Sacramento on Sunday over the A’s. On the road, their record is 13-25, and they’ve lost nine of their last 13 road games.

And for Chicago, there’s a line in the sand—right now, not later. “If the Cubs don’t win at least two of these three, they’re in trouble.” That’s the kind of sentence that lands in a newsroom when the schedule doesn’t pause and the margin for error keeps shrinking.

There’s also something else hanging in the background: this series ends a repeating opponent rhythm. This is the last of three this year in which the Cubs will have played the same opponent in two series separated by one against a different opponent. The first run was April 13-23, when the Cubs won two of three at Philadelphia, won three at home vs. the Mets, then swept four vs. the Phillies. The second was June 5-14, when they lost two of three at home vs. the Giants, lost two of three at Colorado, then won two of three at San Francisco.

After Wednesday, the Cubs will have finished their season series vs. 10 teams: the Giants. Phillies and Rockies in the NL. and the Angels. Astros. Athletics. Guardians. Rangers. Rays and White Sox in the AL. The only NL team they have not played is the Marlins, and they won’t until Sept. 4, when the teams meet in the first of three games at Miami. Chicago’s final three home games are Sept. 22-24 against those Wrigley crowds will matter again.

Monday’s pitching matchup puts Shōta Imanaga. LHP (4-6. 4.44 ERA. 1.062 WHIP. 4.72 FIP) up against Michael Lorenzen. RHP (2-8. 7.54 ERA. 1.904 WHIP. 4.84 FIP). Tuesday features Edward Cabrera, RHP (4-3, 4.86 ERA, 1.413 WHIP, 5.09 FIP) against Ryan Feltner, RHP (2-2, 5.20 ERA, 1.211 WHIP, 4.98 FIP). Then on Wednesday, Javier Assad, RHP (4-1, 3.99 ERA, 1.017 WHIP, 3.99 FIP) faces Sean Sullivan, LHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.667 WHIP, 2.77 FIP).

All three games start at 7:05 p.m. CT, with Marquee Sports Network listed for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Rockies are showing flashes—like the 23-9 eruption in Sacramento—but the broader picture is harder to ignore. On the road they’ve struggled, and for the Cubs, this series is one more chance to turn that into something concrete.

By Thursday, the Cubs also get a reset: they have Thursday off. Then they host the Toronto Blue Jays in a three-game series at Wrigley Field beginning Friday afternoon. The Cubs’ goal before that comes into focus quickly: take advantage of the home record. protect the momentum. and don’t let this stretch slide into uncertainty.

Cubs vs Rockies preview Wrigley Field Shōta Imanaga Michael Lorenzen Edward Cabrera Ryan Feltner Javier Assad Sean Sullivan Marquee Sports Network