Colorado @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2014 ) Colorado 3, Chi. Cubs 4

Chicago's John Baker is expected to return to his regular duties behind the plate when the Cubs host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday in the third contest of a four-game series after having a night to remember at the other end of the battery. Baker on Tuesday was the winning pitcher in the longest game in Cubs and Rockies history at 6 hours, 27 minutes when he worked a scoreless 16th inning and scored the winning run on Starlin Castro's sacrifice fly after walking to lead off the bottom half in Chicago's 4-3 victory. Tuesday's contest was also the longest in the history of Wrigley Field, which is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this season.

While Cubs manager Rick Renteria opted to use a position player on the mound rather than utilize closer Hector Rondon for the fifth time in six days or a starter, Colorado's Walt Weiss went to rookie Tyler Matzek - Thursday's scheduled starter - in the 16th inning. It was another depressing setback for the Rockies, who fell to 3-8 since the All-Star break while losing for the 14th time in their last 15 road games and dropping to a major league-worst 16-35 on the road. Chicago's Travis Wood, who pinch hit in the fourth inning Tuesday, is winless in his last seven turns (0-4) and opposes Brett Anderson, who has recorded two straight quality starts.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), CSN Chicago Plus

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Brett Anderson (1-3, 3.24 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (7-9, 5.06)

Anderson won his first game in a Colorado uniform when he yielded two hits and four walks in 6 1/3 shutout innings before leaving with a blister in an 8-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday. "... Your goal when you pitch is to win the ballgame and it's been a while,'' the 26-year-old Texas native told reporters. ''It's pretty satisfying ... Hopefully I'll get on a roll here.'' Anderson, who never faced Chicago, is 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts since returning from the disabled list (broken finger).

Wood received a no-decision after allowing five runs (two earned) and seven hits while striking out five in five innings of Chicago's 7-6 loss to St. Louis on Friday. The 27-year-old Arkansas native, who has a 6.38 ERA during his winless streak, yielded two homers against the Cardinals while hitting his third of the season. Wood is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in 20 innings covering four games (three starts) against Colorado while dominating Carlos Gonzalez (0-for-10, four strikeouts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Tuesday's contest surpassed the 6 hours, 10 minutes Chicago played in a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 21 innings on Aug. 17, 1982 at Wrigley - also the previous longest game in Cubs annals. The Rockies' previous long contest was a 2-1 victory in San Diego on April 17, 2008, which took 6:16 and 22 innings to complete.

2. Colorado INF Cristhian Adames on Tuesday made his major-league debut and went 0-for-3 - including a double play against Baker to end the 16th inning - after entering in the 10th.

3. Rockies 1B Justin Morneau on Tuesday went 1-for-4 with a two-run double and three walks in his return to the lineup after missing 10 games because of a neck injury.

PREDICTION: Cubs 3, Rockies 2