Javy Baez is back with the big league team, and he’s getting his first start of the year.
He’ll give Ben Zobrist a day off at second base, and this is the kind of thing we’ll see from Baez. Jason Heyward is also getting a day off in favor of Matt Szczur (by way of Jorge Soler sliding over to right field):
- Dexter Fowler, CF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Jorge Soler, LF
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Addison Russell, SS
- Matt Szczur, RF
- David Ross, C
- Jake Arrieta, P
All in all, that’s about as “weak” of a lineup as this Cubs team can put out there, which is not at all to say that this lineup is actually weak. David Ross gets a start to rest Miguel Montero, and Szczur and Baez get a start. In other words, everyone on the bench is starting today with the exception of Tommy La Stella.
It’s a very different look for the lineup, who’ll hopefully come through today behind Jake Arrieta. For his part, hopefully Arrieta keeps the Rockies down, and maybe even hits another homer of his own.