55 Degrees \/ Clear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nColorado Rockies vs Chicago Cubs Analysis<\/h2>\nThe Chicago Cubs travel to Coors Field to start a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies. Left-hander Kyle Freeland faces off against Justin Steele.<\/p>\n Both teams have exceeded expectations in the first week of the 2022 season, and done it in fairly similar fashion with solid pitching, timely hitting and a new addition to the team that’s made a difference.<\/p>\n The Cubs start the year with a 3-2 record, taking two of three games from the Brewers, and splitting two games with the Pirates.<\/p>\n One player who wasn’t bothered by the shortened spring training is new outfielder from Japan, Seiya Suzuki. He’s hitting .400 with three home runs, nine RBI and an OPS of 1.524.<\/p>\n Steele Stellar in First Start<\/h3>\nThe north-siders’ pitching staff has also performed well, with a 3.27 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, and holding opposing hitters to a paltry .213 average.<\/p>\n Starter Justin Steele enters his third year with the Cubs, pitching more than half of last season as a reliever before he entered the starting rotation in August and September.<\/p>\n The southpaw from Mississippi had a respectable 3.92 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 2021, but he had a problem as a starter with the long ball.<\/p>\n Steele gave up 10 home runs in 43.2 innings, which comes to over two per nine innings of work – not a ratio you want to see from one of your starting pitchers. Especially coming to Coors Field and facing a lot of right-handed hitters.<\/p>\n Bryant Faces Old Friends in Cubs<\/h3>\nThe Rockies have gotten off to a great start to the 2022 season with a 4-1 record and leading the NL West. It looks like Kris Bryant is making good on his promise to bring a winning attitude to his new team.<\/p>\n The Rox took two of three from the Dodgers, then swept a two-game series at Texas. That’s important to start the year, as last year they had one of the worst road records, team ERAs and batting averages in baseball.<\/p>\n Both the starting pitchers and bullpen have been solid, giving up five runs or less in every game. The staff has a team ERA of 2.54 (3rd best in MLB), an impressive WHIP of 1.15, and only given up two home runs.<\/p>\n Colorado Rockies vs Chicago Cubs Prediction<\/h2>\nBetting Recommendation:<\/strong> The Rockies have looked solid the first week of the season, and are playing fundamentally sound baseball.<\/p>\nThe bullpen has held up and there aren’t any weak spots in this lineup, which has a lot of right-handers to face lefty Justin Steele.<\/p>\n The Cubs played a game in Pittsburgh on Wednesday and flew to Denver for Thursday night’s game. The Rockies bullpen has an ERA of 0.78, while the Cubs bullpen sports an ERA of 3.60 on the year.<\/p>\n Rockies batters should put up a lot of hits and runs against Steele and the Cubs bullpen, and I don’t think Chicago has enough offense to keep up.<\/p>\n That’s why I like Colorado on the moneyline as my best bet. You can also sprinkle a little on the run line, as you’re getting plus money as of Wednesday night.<\/p>\n Prediction: Rockies Moneyline<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Caesars](\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/caesars_logo_wide_@2x.png\") <\/a><\/p>\nInterested in placing a bet on Thursday’s Colorado Rockies vs Chicago Cubs clash? Caesars Sports is offering up to a $1,500 match bet<\/a> for first-time deposits in New Jersey, West Virginia, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, New York and Louisiana.<\/em><\/p>\n
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