The Colorado Rockies (1-3) and Chicago Cubs (1-2) meet Monday for the 1st Game of a 3-Game series. First pitch from Wrigley Field is set for 2:20 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rockies vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Chicago won 4-2 last season
Colorado was routed 5-1 by the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday while failing to cash as a +173 road underdog. The Rockies never led in Sunday’s loss as they allowed the D-Backs to jump out to a 3-0 start by the end of the 1st. RHP Ryan Feltner pitched 5 innings and allowed 3 ER and 5 H while accumulating 4 strikeouts.
Chicago picked up a 9-5 win over the Texas Rangers Sunday as a +115 road underdog, but it lost the series 2-1. Sunday’s game was tied at 5 entering the top of the 9th, but the Cubs went on to score 4 runs during that inning to come away with the win.
Rockies at Cubs projected starters
RHP Dakota Hudson vs. LHP Shota Imanaga
Hudson (6-3, 4.98 ERA in 2023) made 12 starts and 6 relief appearances as member of the St. Louis Cardinals last season. He had a 1.50 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9 and 4.9 K/9 in 81 1/3 innings.
- 2023 road splits: 2-3, 6.57 ERA (37 IP, 27 ER), 29 H, 21 BB and 17 K across 6 starts and 3 relief appearances
- 2023 vs. Chicago: 0-0, 7.11 ERA (6 1/3 IP, 5 ER), 10 H, 4 BB, 5 K in 2 relief outings
- Career vs. Cubs: 3-0, 3.72 ERA (36 1/3 IP, 15 ER), 33 H, 34 K through 5 starts and 5 relief appearances
Imanaga makes his Major League debut Monday. The 30-year-old was signed by Chicago Jan. 11 and previously played for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan.
- Pitched 2 1/3 innings and struck out 5 batters in his spring training debut Mar. 2 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers
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Rockies at Cubs odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 8:40 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rockies +166 (bet $100 to win $166) | Cubs -198 (bet $198 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rockies +1.5 (-138) | Cubs -1.5 (+115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -122 | U: +100)
Rockies at Cubs picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 6, Rockies 4
Moneyline
PASS.
I like the Cubs (-198) to come away with the win, but they are not worth the risk of betting on as such heavy favorites. Bet on the run line and/or O/U instead.
Run line/Against the spread
BET CUBS -1.5 (+115).
The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last 3 matchups vs. Colorado and in 4 of the last 6 meetings with the Rockies in Chicago. The Cubs also covered the run line in their last outing overall.
Be aware that neither team has been good at covering to start the season, so this bet does have some risk attached.
Over/Under
LEAN OVER 6.5 (-122).
The Over has hit in 3 of Colorado’s 1st 4 games and is 7-3 in the Rockies’ last 10 dating back to the 2023 season.
For Chicago, the Over has hit in back-to-back games.
This a lean because the Under has been a dominant 9-1 in the last 10 Colorado-Chicago matchups.
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