April 16--Jake Arrieta (2-0, 1.93 ERA) will try help the Cubs wipe the rare taste of defeat from their mouths when he makes his first start this season at Wrigley Field at 1:20 p.m. Saturday against the Rockies.
Colorado (6-4) extinguished the Cubs' winning streak at five Friday thanks to a 6-1 victory that featured four flubs by the Cubs (8-2), who managed just as many hits.
Joe Maddon will ask several of his backups to step forward against Rockies pitcher Christian Bergman (0-1, 12.00 ERA) while regulars Jason Heyward, Miguel Montero and Ben Zobrist take a breather.
Javier Baez will make his first appearance of the season, starting at second base a day after being recalled from Triple-A Iowa, where he was rehabbing his injured left thumb.
Matt Szczur will start in right field, while David Ross catches.
Maddon said Saturday was a perfect day of rest because, he said, Bergman, while right-handed, is more like a lefty because of his reverse-splitfinger fastball.
Righties have hit .362 with a .997 OPS against Bergman during his career, while he's held lefties to a .248 average and .684 OPS.
"I know it's early, but I still look at the long-term benefits of resting people," Maddon said.
Saturday's lineups
Rockies
Cristhian Adames, 2B
Trevor Story, SS
Carlos Gonzalez, RF
Nolan Arenado, 3B
Gerardo Parra, CF
Mark Reynolds, 1B
Ryan Raburn, LF
Dustin Garneau, C
Christian Bergman, P
Cubs
Dexter Fowler, CF
Kris Bryant, 3B
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Jorge Soler, LF
Javier Baez, 2B
Addison Russell, SS
Matt Szczur, RF
David Ross, C
Jake Arrieta, P
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