The Chicago Cubs have just taken three from the Reds, and are now heading to New York in a rematch of the 2015 NLCS.
Here’s the lineup they’ll try to win with.
Chicago Cubs Lineup vs. New York Mets (Steven Matz)
- Ben Zobrist, RF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Willson Contreras, C
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Matt Szczur, LF
- Addison Russell, SS
- John Lackey, P
- Albert Almora, Jr., CF
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The big news here would normally be that Jason Heyward is sitting for the second consecutive day, but I don’t think there’s too sexy of a story here. The Cubs faced a lefty yesterday, they’re facing another lefty tonight, Matt Szczur has been good against lefties, and Joe Maddon likes to stack days off (to squeeze more value out of them). Although those days off tend to come just before or after an off-day, the Cubs won’t have any up until the All-Star Break. With Jacob deGrom on the mound tomorrow, I suspect Heyward will be right back in there. And no, I do not think he’ll start being platooned more frequently.
In the meantime, as I said, Matt Szczur takes over in left, Ben Zobrist shoots out to right and Javy Baez continues to draw starts anywhere he can (this time at second base). Willson Contreras stay in the clean-up spot and Albert Almora takes on the 2015 Addison Russell ninth spot in the lineup.
We’ll have a full Pre-Gamin’ closer to game time.