Cubs @ Rockies

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago Cubs (37-27)

@ Colorado Rockies (33-31)

Starting Pitchers:

Darvish (CHC): 2-3; 4.88 ERA

Marquez (COL) 6-3; 4.07 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Chicago Cubs: 6-4

Colorado Rockies: 6-4

Current odds:

Chicago Cubs: (+117)

Colorado Rockies: (-127)

• After spending the last week reaffirming they are one of the top home teams in the major leagues, the Chicago Cubs will spend the upcoming week trying to prove they can go toe-to-toe with the two of the best teams in the National League West on the road. The Cubs begin a seven-game trek on Monday with the opener of their three-game series against the Colorado Rockies. Chicago improved to 24-11 at Wrigley Field following Sunday’s 5-1 triumph over St. Louis, completing a three-game sweep of its NL Central rival while wrapping up a 6-1 homestand during which it outscored the opposition 41-21. Included in that surge was a series win over Colorado, although the Cubs needed a career-high seven-RBI performance from David Bote to pull out a 9-8 victory on Wednesday before suffering their only loss on the homestand the following night thanks in part to Peter Lambert’s sparkling big-league debut.

• The Rockies (340) rank third in the NL in runs – just ahead of the Cubs (335) – but had their bats silenced for the most part over the weekend in New York, scoring a total of four times in a pair of losses during their three-game series against the Mets. Colorado recorded only two hits in Sunday’s 6-1 setback, including David Dahl’s RBI double with two outs in the ninth inning that ended New York’s shutout bid.

• Darvish did not factor in the decision for a seventh straight outing on Wednesday after giving up three runs – two earned – on three hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings against Colorado. The 32-year-old has yielded three earned runs or fewer five times during his winless streak but struggled with his control all season as he leads the majors with 44 walks. Nolan Arenado is 4-for-10 with a home run versus Darvish, who is 0-3 with an 8.20 ERA in four career starts against Colorado.

• Marquez endured one of the worst starts of his career Wednesday in Chicago, surrendering eight runs on seven hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings in a loss to the Cubs. The 24-year-old, who ranks fifth in the majors in innings (90 2/3), is 3-0 over his last six home outings despite posting a 4.38 ERA over that stretch. Anthony Rizzo (2-for-5) and Kyle Schwarber (4-for-8) have fared well against Marquez, who is 1-2 with a 6.86 ERA in four career starts versus Chicago.

• After batting .196 in May, Schwarber is hitting .367 through eight games this month.

• Dahl is hitting .394 in June and ranks fifth in the majors with a .330 overall batting average.

• Chicago, which will head to Los Angeles to meet the Dodgers for four games later in the week, will be playing its only road contests over a 24-game stretch during this trek.