The Cubs head to Peoria – the one in Arizona, lest anyone get erroneous directions – to take on the Mariners tonight. Travis Wood starts for the Cubs and bats eighth, as I’ll bet you a donut he’s likely to do in the regular season (assuming he’s a regular member of the rotation (upon which I’ll bet another donut)). No pinch hitting or running duties in this one, but Wood should at least get an at bat or two.
The Cubs will face (former? current?) big-time young pitcher Taijuan Walker, who’s had plenty of ups and downs the last couple years.
Tonight’s game is on CSN Chicago, if you get it, and, if not, you can watch on MLB.tv.
Kris Bryant isn’t starting in this one, but he is available off the bench – so you probably better not expect more than two or three homers. Starlin Castro is back from a tight groin that saw him miss most of the last week.
The lineup:
- Dexter Fowler, CF
- Chris Coghlan, LF
- Miguel Montero, C
- Starlin Castro, SS
- Ryan Sweeney, RF
- Tommy La Stella, 3B
- Mike Olt, 1B
- Travis Wood, P
- Arismendy Alcantara, 2B
Alcantara and La Stella continue to flip back and forth between second and third when they are given the opportunity for a start. Olt gets a day to show off his skills at first, and Montero continues to bat relatively high in the batting order. Increasingly, I wonder if that’s not so much a signal about where he’ll bat when the season starts as it is about wanting to maximize the at bats he gets in these games without having to leave him in to catch for too long.