It’s Game One of a day-night doubleheader for the Cubs and Nationals. Given that it’s quite difficult to sweep a doubleheader, odds look decent that the Cubs will take this four-game series from the Nationals, after wining each of the past two days.
Dallas Beeler is your 26th man for the first game. The 25-year-old righty was called up especially for this game, and he’ll head back to Iowa after he makes his start. Look for Beeler, if he’s on, to pound the lower half of the strike zone with sinkers, and generate a lot of ground balls. His control is usually quite good, too. Beeler falls into the growing group of upper-level, non-elite, but totally-plausible future starters for the Cubs. He’ll likely compete for a back-end rotation spot next year, and may even fill that role later this year after trade season (Beeler was already on the 40-man roster).
Junior Lake is back in the lineup, and back in center field, after his collision with the wall on Thursday.
Game Info
Washington Nationals (41-38) at Chicago Cubs (34-44), 12:05 CT on WGN.
Game Thread and Series Preview
Game threads now live here in the comments – and with Disqus, they should be even more enjoyable.
The Series Preview lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Gio Gonzalez (4.38 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 3.92 xFIP; 2.37 K/BB)
versus
Dallas Beeler (Debut!)
Washington Nationals Lineup
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Anthony Rendon, 3B
3. Ryan Zimmerman, LF
4. Adam LaRoche, 1B
5. Ian Desmond, SS
6. Kevin Frandsen, 2B
7. Nate McLouth, RF
8. Jose Lobaton, C
9. Gio Gonzalez, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Junior Lake, CF
2. Justin Ruggiano, RF
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Starlin Castro, SS
5. Mike Olt, 3B
6. Chris Coghlan, LF
7. Darwin Barney, 2B
8. John Baker, C
9. Dallas Beeler, P