The Cubs went deep three times last night, providing all of the offense in the game. Tonight, I’d love to see another three homers, but unless each comes with a few guys on base, how about some additional offense beyond that, too?
Here’s the lineup against the Giants:
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Albert Almora, CF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Ian Happ, LF
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Addison Russell, SS
- Miguel Montero, C
- Kyle Hendricks, P
The more things change, the more they stay … well, changed.
Kyle Schwarber sits against lefty Matt Moore, who is split neutral for his career, and has been absolutely pasted by lefties this year. In Moore’s partial two post-Tommy John seasons before 2017, though, he was more susceptible to righties, so perhaps that’s the data the Cubs are going off of for this one.
Because righty Javy Baez also gets the start, and he’s in there at second base and leading off. Baez – like all the other Cubs leadoff options this year – doesn’t really have the skill sets you’d look for in an ideal leadoff man, but he does run the bases well. Here’s hoping he can get on them a few times ahead of the heart of the lineup tonight. (Note: Baez has been super hot lately.)
Ian Happ slides over to left field to accommodate another righty bat in the lineup in Albert Almora. Miguel Montero – a lefty bat – catches tonight. Jason Heyward, another lefty, stays in to play right field.
So, basically … it’s all kind of a mix of players. Go get ’em and such. The last time the Cubs saw Moore, he was dominating them in Game Four of the NLDS. (Of course, we all remember how that game turned out …. )
As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ closer to game time (7:05pm CT).