Shota Imanaga and Michael Lorenzen meet again, five days after their no-decision split at Coors. Imanaga went 5 shutout innings with 7 strikeouts on 2 hits. Lorenzen actually matched him line-for-line — 5 IP, 1 ER, 7 K — which is the kind of outing that feels like a typo next to his 7.54 ERA. First pitch is 7:05 PM CT.
The Rockies just hung 23 on the Athletics in Las Vegas — a franchise record, with Willi Castro driving in 7 and Hunter Goodman ripping 5 hits. That doesn't fix a 27-45 team, but it does mean Colorado's bats are warm walking into Wrigley. The catch: Lorenzen is the guy carrying a 2-8 record and a home-and-road-both-ugly ledger, and he's been openly floated as a DFA candidate in Denver.
The Cubs are 37-35 and just dropped a 5-1 game to the Giants on Sunday, which is roughly the season in microcosm — flashes, then a flat one. They've also been gutted in the rotation. Justin Steele and Cade Horton are on the 60-day, Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon are on the 15-day with Taillon not back until after the break, and Seiya Suzuki has been DH-ing through a knee. Imanaga is doing a lot of load-bearing work.
- Day-To-DayJake McCarthy CF — McCarthy (illness) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.
- Day-To-DaySean Sullivan SP — The Rockies selected Sullivan's contract from Triple-A Albuquerque ahead of his start Friday against the Athletics.
- Day-To-DayBrayan Castillo RP — The Rockies announced Monday that Castillo is dealing with right lat tightness and has been shut down from throwing while undergoing treatment for the injury, TheDNVR.com reports.
- Day-To-DayCase Williams SP — Williams is currently slowed by a stress reaction in his right triceps, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayJared Thomas CF — The Rockies announced Monday that Thomas hasn't been participating in spring training while he recovers from offseason surgery to address a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist, TheDNVR.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILBrenton Doyle CF — Doyle (oblique) has yet to resume baseball activity, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJordan Beck LF — Beck (hamstring) has resumed throwing on the field, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILMickey Moniak LF — Moniak (ankle) has not begun testing his ability to change direction while running, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DaySeiya Suzuki RF — Suzuki (knee) will serve as the Cubs' designated hitter and No. 5 batter in Sunday's game against the Giants.
- Day-To-DayJaxon Wiggins SP — The Cubs announced Wednesday that Wiggins (elbow) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions and facing hitters at the organization's complex in Arizona and could soon be ready to pitch in games, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayBrandon Birdsell RP — Birdsell (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.
- Day-To-DayJeff Brigham RP — Brigham was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul, retroactive to April 6, with a left oblique strain, TwinsDaily.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILMatthew Boyd SP — Manager Craig Counsell said that Boyd (shoulder/knee) played catch without issue Friday, and the Cubs are hoping that the left-hander can progress "rapidly," MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILJameson Taillon SP — Taillon (hamstring) is expected to be sidelined until after the All-Star break, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
- 15-Day-ILRiley Martin RP — Martin has been diagnosed with flexor strain in his left elbow and is expected to miss eight weeks, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
- 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey RP — The Cubs moved Harvey (triceps) from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
Colorado's IL is its own genre. Kris Bryant's back continues to keep him out, Chase Dollander is headed for UCL surgery, Jose Quintana is on the 60-day, Brenton Doyle and Jordan Beck and Mickey Moniak are all parked, and Jake McCarthy was out Sunday with an illness. The lineup that just put up 23 was held together with Goodman, Castro, Kyle Karros and Tyler Freeman doing the heavy lifting — and Coors isn't traveling with them to the North Side.
The series-opener at Coors went to the Rockies 3-2, and the second game went 9-3 to the Cubs. So you've got recent reps both ways, the same two starters again, and a Cubs club that needs to take care of business at home against a team 10 games under .500. If Imanaga repeats his last line, this is over by the 7th. If Lorenzen repeats his last line, Wrigley gets nervous.