Chicago Cubs at Colorado Rockies 4/17/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Chicago Cubs will close out a four-game road series at Coors Field when they meet up with the Colorado Rockies. Colorado has gotten out of the gates quick this season, winning five of their first seven games and improving to 5-2 after a 6-5 win over the Cubs. The Cubs won their opening series over the Brewers, split with the Pirates, and split the opening two games against the Rockies to move to 4-3 on the year.

The Cubs have one of the youngest lineups in baseball after starting the rebuild last season but have looked excellent thus far this season. Seiya Suzuki, a highly touted outfielder from Japan, is hitting .368 with 3 homers and 10 RBIs in the young season. Center Fielder Ian Happ is hitting .429 with 5 RBIs, and one of the lone veterans, catcher Wilson Contreras, is hitting .389 on the year.

Drew Smyly will get the ball for the Cubs and is coming off an excellent start in his last outing, throwing a scoreless five innings allowing just three hits. Smyly has become a journeyman in the late stages of his career, and the Cubs are his fifth team in as many years. His number has dipped after some injury struggles, but he still has posted a career 4.16 ERA in 128 appearances. 

Colorado has been one of the best lineups in baseball through the first week of the year, hitting .275 as a team and scoring 27 runs across their last five games. Kris Bryant has been a worthy addition, hitting .379 which leads the team. While first baseman CJ Cron leads the team with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs, he has yet to draw a walk but has struck out seven times. 

Austin Ginger, the left-hander out of Florida, will look to bounce back from a rough opening start to his season. Gomber allowed three runs on four hits in 4.2 innings, but the Rockies were able to battle to secure a 6-4 win in extra innings. Gomber started 23 games last season, posting a 4.53 ERA across 115.1 innings.