Today is about as cool as it gets in Spring Training: there are two games, one of them is in Las Vegas, and one of them is televised!
The one that is televised is the same as the one in Vegas, and that’s today’s game against the Mets. It’s on WGN, so drink it in. The other game, against the Royals, is on WGN Radio. Watch one, listen to the other at the same time?
Jeff Samardzija starts against the Royals, and Carlos Pimentel – who has already been cut – will take the ball in Vegas. He’s still probably battling for a rotation spot at AAA, so these performances matter for the 24-year-old righty. (UPDATE: Well, maybe it’ll be Tsuyoshi Wada. My bad – it looks like Pimentel will follow Wada at some point.)
The Vegas game, you’ll get to see Javier Baez start at shortstop, and Kris Bryant is likely to make an appearance at some point. Over in Surprise (the city, not the reaction), Mike Olt starts at first base, Brett Jackson is in right, Josh Vitters is DH’ing, and Christian Villanueva starts at third.
Lineup against the Mets:
- Darwin Barney 2B
- Donnie Murphy 3B
- Nate Schierholtz DH
- Anthony Rizzo 1B
- Ryan Sweeney RF
- Javier Baez SS
- Darnell McDonald LF
- Eli Whiteside C
- Matt Szczur CF
Lineup against the Royals:
- Junior Lake, CF
- Ryan Roberts, 2B
- Welington Castillo, C
- Justin Ruggiano, LF
- Mike Olt, 1B
- Chris Valaika, SS
- Josh Vitters, DH
- Brett Jackson, RF
- Christian Villanueva, 3B