Colorado Rockies vs Chicago Cubs

Colorado Rockies at Chicago Cubs (2026-06-17). Sean Sullivan vs Javier Assad at Wrigley Field.

Sean Sullivan, a left-hander for the Rockies, is making only his second start of the season. His lone outing covered 3 innings, yielding an impressive 0.00 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP, with 6.0 K/9 and no walks. This limited sample size suggests potential but offers minimal predictive value for extended work, particularly against a full lineup. Javier Assad, pitching for the Cubs, has accumulated 38.1 innings across four starts, posting a 3.99 ERA and 1.02 WHIP for the season. His K/9 stands at 5.63 and BB/9 at 2.11. Assad's recent performance shows a "down" trend in ERA, yet he has a 33.3% blow-up rate and an "alternating" pattern in his last starts, indicating inconsistency with a mix of strong and poor outings, including a 9-run allowance in 4.1 innings on April 13. He has also not recorded a quality start this season, suggesting a tendency for shorter appearances or higher run totals.

Offensively, both teams demonstrate comparable production, with the Rockies holding a slight edge in overall OPS at 0.729 compared to the Cubs' 0.726. Colorado has scored 338 runs, while Chicago has tallied 336 runs. The Rockies maintain a higher batting average of 0.252 against the Cubs' 0.239, though Chicago exhibits superior plate discipline with a 0.332 OBP versus Colorado's 0.322, reflecting a higher walk rate. On the pitching side, the Cubs present a distinct advantage, holding a team ERA of 4.24 and a WHIP of 1.25, alongside a K/9 rate of 8.04. The Rockies' pitching staff carries a considerably higher ERA of 5.57 and WHIP of 1.53, with a lower K/9 of 7.41, suggesting more vulnerability on the mound. Both teams have allowed a high number of home runs, with the Rockies giving up 101 and the Cubs 106.

The head-to-head history from the previous season heavily favors the Cubs, who secured five wins in six matchups against the Rockies. These contests featured a range of scoring outcomes, with some lower-scoring affairs and others reaching higher totals. Given the significant discrepancy in team pitching metrics, particularly the Rockies' elevated ERA and WHIP, the historical trend of Cubs success against Colorado aligns with current statistical disparities. The total line for this specific game is not available.