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The Chicago Cubs are in town this weekend, and that inevitably means that LoDo will be crawling with obnoxious Cubbie die-hards who are hoping their team can go just one series in Denver without being a massive disappointment. The Cubs have not won a series at Coors Field since 2004 and routinely are the victims of some sort of Rockies milestone.
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Unlike in recent years, Chicago actually has a fairly decent team this season, although that might not show in their record and standing in the NL Central. The Cubs enter the series at 42-51 and a full 15 games out of first place, but their pythagorean record suggests they aren't as bad as you'd think. Chicago is closer to a 45-48 ballclub on paper anchored by a smoke-and-mirrors All-Star and a vastly-underrated cast of supporting characters.
Travis Wood was brilliant in his highly-annoying (a combination of words that can also be used to describe Cub supporters outside of Chicago) start against the Rockies at Wrigley Field earlier this season, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing just two hits in a 9-1 Cubs victory. Wood's start was good for a Game Score of 72, tying his season high, which was previously set in his first start of the year.
Wood has performed like that often, resulting in a 2.79 ERA/143 ERA+ despite the fact that he's a low-strikeout, high-flyball pitcher. Scott Feldman profiles similarly, at least in the high-K, low-walk department, and enjoyed the same type of success -- albeit with a higher ERA -- before being dealt to the Baltimore Orioles. Matt Garza strikes out a few more batters and has kept his walk rate down, combining those traits with a few very good starts of late to skyrocket his trade value.
Jeff Samardzija is perhaps the team's best pitcher, striking out more than a batter per inning while walking around three per nine. However, he's dealt with some tough luck and as a result, is 5-9 with a 4.06 ERA.
The Cubs' bullpen has received strong performances from Kevin Gregg, James Russell and Blake Parker to this point, which helped the team overcome the woes of former closer Carlos Marmol, who walked nearly seven batters per nine innings and posted a 5.86 ERA before being jettisoned to the Dodgers.
Offensively, Chicago's best hitter with more than 200 plate appearances has been former Giant and noted Rockies killer Nate Schierholtz, who will probably hit seven home runs this series, giving more fuel to the wretched Cubs fans that will be in attendance. Schierholtz boasts a SLG-heavy 122 OPS+ thanks to his 33 extra-base hits in part-time duty.
Say what you want about the guys who have started a majority of the Cubs' games. I mean, really -- say what you want; nobody in the group has an OBP of more than .345 and has three players with sub-.300 on-base clips. However, their depth was enviable, especially to fans of a team that has none, at least until injuries and trades depleted it a bit. Dioner Navarro, Ryan Sweeney (who landed on the 60-day DL at the end of June with a fractured rib cage) and Cody Ransom have all been (or were) excellent in limited roles for Chicago. Even Scott Hairston (another Rockies killer), hitting .172/.232/.434, homered once every 12.4 at-bats, a number that would top the NL if he qualified, while with the Cubs. He has since been traded to the Nationals.
For more on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue, where Al Yellon and his team do a fantastic job of covering the Lovable Losers and aren't even that insufferable about it!
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Probable pitchers
Game 1: Friday, July 19 at 6:40 p.m. MT (ROOT Sports)
Jeff Samardzija (5-9, 4.06 ERA) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (9-5, 3.21 ERA)
Game 2: Saturday, July 20 at 6:10 p.m. MT (ROOT Sports)
Carlos Villanueva (2-5, 3.59) vs. Juan Nicasio (5-4, 4.89)
Game 3: Sunday, July 21 at 2:10 p.m. MT (ROOT Sports)
Edwin Jackson (6-10, 5.11) vs. Tyler Chatwood (5-3, 2.56)
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