On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Rockies series preview

The Cubs face another team from the NL West.

Summarized by AI ⓘ

What is the story about?

When the Cubs faced the Rockies at Wrigley Field in May, they completed a three-game sweep after which the Rockies were 9-47. The Rox lost their next three games after that and were 9-50, upon which they swept the Marlins.

Since that 9-50 start the Rockies are 29-46, which is bad but not the worst in the league — it’s a bit better than the Nats and Twins over that time frame.

So the Cubs cannot look past this series.

For more on the Rockies, here’s Samantha Bradfield, manager of our SB Nation Rockies site

Purple Row.

The last time Cubs fans saw the Colorado Rockies, they were 9-44 and on a collision course to obliterate the loss record set by the 2024 Chicago White Sox.

Fast forward to Labor Day weekend, and the Colorado Rockies are 38-96. They are still on pace to set a franchise record for losses (currently 103, set in 2023), but only need three more wins in their remaining 28 games to avoid breaking that 2024 White Sox record.

That said, though, a lot has changed in the Warren Schaeffer era, especially in the second half of the season.

The Rockies have gone 16-22 overall following the break after going 22-74 in the first half.

They have won five series in the second half after winning just two in the first half.
They are 6-3 in one-run games after going 10-16 in the first half.
They have come from behind in the sixth inning or later in four of their last seven games, and have come from behind in 26 of their 38 wins.
They lead the majors with four wins after trailing by at least five runs (the Arizona Diamondbacks witnessed that firsthand two weeks ago, and the Pittsburgh Pirates before them during the first weekend of August).

The Rockies are often down, but you never feel like they’re out anymore. “As long as there’s outs!” as my mother says.

All-Star C/DH Hunter Goodman continues to lead the Rockies with 26 home runs, which are tied for ninth in the NL and are the second-most by a primary catcher in franchise history (Wilin Rosario hit 28 in 2012, so Goodman is on track to break that record).

Outfielder Brenton Doyle has also turned around his second half. After slashing just .202/.254/.322 in the first half, Doyle has come on to hit .358/.378/.604 in the second half. His .358 batting average is the sixth-highest in the Majors, and he has the 12th-highest OPS (.982) through this span (min. 100 PA). Doyle has homered seven times in August with three home runs in his last eight games.

The biggest story, however, is the Rockies youth movement officially being in full swing (both on the field and in the manager’s office).

A franchise-record 13 players have made their MLB debuts this year, breaking the previous records (12) set in 2024 and 2016. Six position players have debuted, which is the most in a single season since 2022, and their seven pitchers matches their 2024 tally. After the trade of franchise third baseman Ryan McMahon to the New York Yankees at the trade deadline, the average age of the 2025 Colorado Rockies is 26.5 – third-youngest in MLB trailing the Marlins (26.4) and Nationals (26.1).

Overall, the Warren Schaeffer Effect is in full swing. The 2025 Rockies are no longer barreling towards MLB infamy, and they are playing with heart. You never feel like they’re out, even if they’re down. The young guys are learning how to be big leaguers and are showing heart in every game.

Don’t overlook them this weekend because you never know what will happen.

Fun facts

Between 1996 and 2002, the Cubs played four series at Colorado immediately after playing at San Francisco. This will be the first time they have done so since then. The Cubs have a winning record in all games against the Rockies, 120-112, but are 54-63 in Denver. They are 1-6-1 in series there since 2016, winning two of three in 2018 and splitting four games in 2022. All six series losses were two games to one.

(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)

Probable pitching matchups

Friday: Cade Horton, RHP (8-4, 2.88 ERA, 1.164 WHIP, 3.71 FIP) vs. Gérman Márquez, RHP (3-11, 5.67 ERA, 1.637 WHIP, 4.58 FIP)

Saturday: Javier Assad, RHP (0-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.286 WHIP, 4.98 FIP) vs. McCade Brown, RHP (0-1, 9.82 ERA, 2.182 WHIP, 8.03 FIP)

Sunday: TBD vs. Tanner Gordon, RHP (5-5, 6.44 ERA, 1.649 WHIP, 4.55 FIP)

Sunday would be Matthew Boyd’s turn, but… the Cubs might be careful with him going forward. It’s possible Ben Brown could be called on to make a spot start Sunday. As always, we await developments.