It’s the first split squad games of Spring Training for the Chicago Cubs (i.e., about half the roster takes on one team, while half takes on another), as the Cubs take on the Diamondbacks in Mesa and the Rockies in Scottsdale.
The game against the Diamondbacks is at 3:05 CT, and the game against the Rockies is at 3:10 CT. The audio for each will be available via MLB.com. Ryan Dempster gets the start in the former game, while Rodrigo Lopez tries to stay perfect in the latter.
We’ve got a Game Thread going at the Message Board for both games, here.
The lineups feature essentially all of the regulars, with some of the vets even deigning to travel to Scottsdale.
Against the Diamondbacks:
1. Reed Johnson, RF
2. Marlon Byrd, CF
3. Starlin Castro, SS
4. Alfonso Soriano, LF
5. Jeff Baker, 1B
6. Geovany Soto, C
7. Darwin Barney, 2B
8. Josh Vitters, 3B
9. Ryan Dempster, P
Against the Rockies (if you want proof that Joe Mather is very much in consideration for a bench job, note that he’s playing center field while Brett Jackson is paying left field – fair bet that Dale Sveum wants to see more of what Mather looks like in center field):
1. David DeJesus, RF
2. Blake DeWitt, 2B
3. Ian Stewart, 3B
4. Bryan LaHair, 1B
5. Joe Mather, CF
6. Brett Jackson, LF
7. Welington Castillo, C
8. Junior Lake, SS
9. Rodrigo Lopez, P