It’s an early day game after an extra-inning night game, so that means some dudes are getting the day off: Kris Bryant and Dexter Fowler. For Bryant, it’s his first day off of the year, and I say rest up. It’s a long season.
Those two being out of the lineup means that it’s an interesting crew for the Cubs today, with Starlin Castro leading off, Chris Denorfia in center, and Jonathan Herrera at third. Not that you were looking for an offensive explosion anyway, especially against Jacob deGrom, but I suspect this will be another low-offensive-output day for the Cubs.
Hopefully that’ll be good enough to do the trick for the third straight game against the Mets, who suffer from similar offensive woes, and who also have to face a great starter today. That’d be Jake Arrieta, who came to the Cubs two years ago today. That trade, man. That was a good trade.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (41-35) at New York Mets (40-39), 12:10 CT on WGN-9 (or your local affiliate) and MLB.tv.
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down there in the comments, so have fun.
The Series Preview lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Jake Arrieta (2.94 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 2.79 xFIP; 4.48 K/BB)
versus
Jacob deGrom (2.15 ERA, 2.59 FIP, 2.92 xFIP; 5.56 K/BB)
New York Mets Lineup
1. Curtis Granderson, RF
2. Darrell Ceciliani, CF
3. Daniel Murphy, 3B
4. Lucas Duda, 1B
5. Wilmer Flores, 2B
6. Eric Campbell, LF
7. Johnny Monnell, C
8. Jacob deGrom, P
9. Ruben Tejada, SS
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Starlin Castro, SS
2. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
3. Miguel Montero, C
4. Chris Coghlan, LF
5. Mike Baxter, RF
6. Chris Denorfia, CF
7. Jonathan Herrera, 3B
8. Jake Arrieta, P
9. Addison Russell, 2B