Today, the Chicago Cubs (6-9) will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-8) at their home ballpark, Camelback Ranch.
The Cubs are three games below .500 on the Spring, so you know, this is a must-win for the reigning champs.
Here’s the Cubs lineup:
- Tommy La Stella, 3B
- Albert Almora Jr., CF
- Jeimer Candelario, 1B
- Matt Szczur, RF
- Ian Happ, 2B
- John Andreoli, LF
- Victor Caratini, C
- Munenori Kawasaki, SS
- Chris Dominguez, DH
Starting Pitcher: Eddie Butler
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For a few days earlier this Spring, one of the Cubs top prospects, Ian Happ (2B/OF), was leading the team with three home runs. But that only lasted a few days, before the big boppers – Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, and Addison Russell – tied it up. Happ is the only one of the four starting today though, so one deep fly ball can help him regain the lead.
Jeimer Candelario also gets a start at first base, one of the two positions (3B) he can play definitively right now. While his bat may be Major League ready (or at least very close to it), he’ll need to improve on his versatility to secure that call back up to the Majors.
As usual, we’ll have a full Pre-Gamin’ closer to game time.