NEWSLETTER
It feels like an eternity since the last Cubs game, but they’re finally back at it against the Dodgers tonight and here’s how they’ll line up.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Ben Zobrist, RF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Javy Baez, SS
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Willson Contreras, C
- Daniel Descalso, 2B
- Jason Heyward, CF
- Jose Quintana, P
The Dodgers are starting righty Kenta Maeda tonight, who has been a whole lot tougher on righties than lefties throughout his career, so I’m not surprised to see Daniel Descalso, Jason Heyward, and Kyle Schwarber all in the lineup.
HOWEVA, the relative positioning is a little odd. Given how much better Descalso and Heyward have been at the plate lately, you might’ve expected them to be slightly higher up in the lineup – at least, relative to Kyle Schwarber, who’s been struggling.
However, Descalso has just one hit in 13 at-bats against Maeda for his career, so that might’ve factored in (note, he also has four walks, so he does clearly see him just fine). Heyward, meanwhile, is 1-3 against Maeda lifetime, while Schwarber is 1-1 with a walk. Maybe it’s as simple as that. Maybe it’s about each player’s ceiling. Or maybe, something about Maeda just makes Schwarber a better matchup.
At the beginning of the year, I would’ve never fought for Heyward (or Descalso) to swap places in the lineup with Schwarber for a game like this, but I wouldn’t have minded that tonight (and I’m about as big of a Schwarber fan as there is). At the same time, that sort of swap is a marginal improvement at best. Instead, it’s just good to see the right personnel in there for this big test at Wrigley Field.
As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ closer to game time.
