It’s time for one of the better-attended series every year – when the Colorado Rockies invite the Chicago Cubs to town.
This time out, the three-game set will begin with a matchup of two pitchers having very different seasons. Chicago’s Cade Horton (8-4, 2.88 ERA) has been spectacular, allowing more than three runs in a startjust twice this season. He’s been especially effective recently as he’s allowed just two earned runs in his last seven starts.
No, seriously – Horton has only allowed two runners to cross the plate across the last 37 innings. That’s an ERA of 0.49. That’s…pretty good.
Horton’s most recent outing against the Rockies took place in May, wherein he surrendered two runs in six innings in what was an eventual Cubs victory in extra innings.
Horton’s opponent in that contest? Why, none other than Germán Márquez (3-11, 5.67 ERA), who will try to match his own solid outing in that previous affair, in which he similarly gave up two runs in six innings, albeit with more traffic.
Márquez is fresh off the injured list and ready to go after his previous start, a loss to the Minnesota Twins, continued what’s been a tough 2025. The Rockies all-time strikeout leader has struggled mightily finding consistency this season. Key to his success tonight will be keeping the ball down, as he’s allowed at least one home run in each of his previous five appearances.
Ryan Ritter is still dealing with a swollen finger, so Orlando Arcia is in at second base again on Friday. We’ll see if his double play partner Ezequiel Tovar has any more fireworks in store – he was in an 0-for-19 skid before he hit a home run last night. Brenton Doyle, meanwhile, is 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk against Horton.
As always, expect a solid contingent of Cubs fans to be present for this weekend’s festivities. Will there be more blue or purple on display? Let’s find out together.
First Pitch: 6:40 p.m. MDT
TV: Rockies.tv
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)
Lineups: