Barstool Bush
Predictions

Colorado Rockies at Chicago Cubs

By Bush StaffUpdated 66d ago·2 min read
Colorado RockiesCOL(28-46)
Chicago CubsCHC(38-36)
6—8
FINAL
123456789RHE
COL
001010031690
CHC
07010000—8121

Sean Sullivan gets the ball for the Rockies after a tidy 3-inning, 0-run no-decision in his MLB debut against the Athletics on June 12. He's a low-three-quarters lefty with an 89 mph fastball and a deception-over-stuff profile — exactly the kind of arm Wrigley's afternoon shadows can either swallow or expose. Javier Assad counters at 4-1 with a 3.99 ERA, fresh off 6 shutout innings against the Giants on his last turn.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
Rockies(28-46)
WLWLL
6
Cubs(38-36)
LWLWW
8
Best BetCubs -194
Pregame

Cubs at -180 isn't a bargain, but it's defensible. Assad has been Chicago's most reliable starter through a battered rotation, and Colorado is running out a debutant on the road with a depleted outfield. Pay the price.

The Rockies are 28-46 and that's the polite version. But they punched back Tuesday night 5-2 to even this series after dropping the opener 5-4, and Colorado's outfield situation makes the road win feel even stranger: Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck, and Mickey Moniak are all on the IL, Kris Bryant is still shut down with the back, and Chase Dollander is staring at UCL surgery. They're scraping the roster together and still found a way to grab a game at Wrigley.

Colorado Rockies
Sean Sullivan
(0-2)·8.64 ERA
Jun 12 @ Athletics
ND
3.0IP
0ER
2K
0BB
49P
06/17 Lineup
Chicago Cubs
Javier Assad
(6-1)·4.53 ERA
Jun 12 @ Giants
W
6.0IP
0ER
5K
1BB
85P
06/17 Lineup
Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
(15)
  • 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.05/08
  • Day-To-DayCase Williams (SP) — Williams is currently slowed by a stress reaction in his right triceps, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.05/08
  • 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.05/08
  • 10-Day-ILBrenton Doyle (CF) — Doyle (oblique) worked in the batting cage Monday, MLB.com reports.06/17
  • 10-Day-ILJordan Beck (LF) — Beck (hamstring) stretched and did running drills prior to Tuesday's game against the Cubs, MLB.com reports.06/17
  • 10-Day-ILMickey Moniak (LF) — Moniak (ankle) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, MLB.com reports.06/17
  • 15-Day-ILJimmy Herget (RP) — The Rockies sent Herget (shoulder) to Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.06/09
  • 15-Day-ILTanner Gordon (RP) — Gordon (0-1) took the loss Sunday, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk over three-plus innings against San Francisco. He struck out two.06/06
  • 60-Day-ILChase Dollander (SP) — Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said Friday that Dollander will likely undergo surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow, Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette reports.06/13
  • 60-Day-ILWelinton Herrera (RP) — Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer announced Monday that Herrera (elbow) has been diagnosed with a torn UCL and will miss the remainder of the season, Jack Janes of MLB.com reports.06/02
  • 60-Day-ILMcCade Brown (SP) — Brown (shoulder) had been scheduled to throw a live bullpen session this weekend, MLB.com reports.06/01
  • 60-Day-ILJose Quintana (SP) — The Rockies placed Quintana on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left elbow sprain.05/28
  • 60-Day-ILRJ Petit (RP) — The Rockies transferred Petit (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILPierson Ohl (RP) — The Rockies placed Ohl (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILKris Bryant (DH) — Bryant said Tuesday that the ongoing pain in his back continues to prevent him from participating in baseball activities, though he's still consulting with doctors and trainers for potential rehab options, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.05/08
Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
(14)
  • Day-To-DayEdward Cabrera (SP) — Cabrera (4-3) notched the win over Colorado on Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings.06/17
  • 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.06/13
  • Day-To-DayBrandon Birdsell (RP) — Birdsell (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
  • 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.05/08
  • 15-Day-ILDaniel Palencia (RP) — Palencia (2-1) worked around a walk to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn the win in Monday's 5-4 victory over the Rockies. He struck out three.06/16
  • 15-Day-ILMatthew Boyd (SP) — Boyd (knee/shoulder) will throw an up-down bullpen session Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.06/15
  • 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.06/09
  • 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.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Steele will throw plyo balls for the next week and then progress to throwing a baseball, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.06/15
  • 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — The Cubs moved Harvey (triceps) from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.05/17
  • 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — The Cubs placed Miller (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08

Chicago sits at 38-36 and the rotation is held together with tape. Justin Steele, Matthew Boyd, and Jameson Taillon are all on the shelf — Taillon won't be back until after the All-Star break — and closer Daniel Palencia hit the 15-day IL this week too. Assad has been the steady hand inside that mess, and the Cubs need him to be that again with the bullpen thinner than they'd like.

First pitch is 7:05 PM CT. The market reads this as a get-right spot for Chicago at -180, which would give them the series win and a little breathing room before the weekend. The Rockies' play is the same as always on the road: scratch a couple early, hope the kid eats some innings, and ride it out.

Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
(28-46)
Jun 17W@ Cubs5-2
Jun 16L@ Cubs4-5
Jun 14W@ Athletics23-9
Jun 14L@ Athletics5-7
Jun 13L@ Athletics4-6
Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
(38-36)
Jun 17Lvs Rockies2-5
Jun 16Wvs Rockies5-4
Jun 14L@ Giants1-5
Jun 14W@ Giants6-1
Jun 13W@ Giants5-1

The angle worth watching is how the Cubs' lineup handles Sullivan the first time through. Low-slot lefties with command can steal a start before a team's video room catches up, and if Sullivan flashes the same control he had against Oakland (0 walks, 2 strikeouts), this gets interesting in a hurry. If he doesn't, the Cubs are home, well-rested, and very capable of putting up a crooked one early.

Sources

MLBColorado RockiesChicago CubsPolymarketKalshiSean SullivanJavier Assad