Tonight, the Chicago Cubs will face the pitcher they got on Opening Day, Jose Urena, and they’ll do it without Javier Baez, who injured his groin last night, at second base. Update on him coming soon.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Ben Zobrist, RF
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Victor Caratini, C
- Tommy La Stella, 2B
- Addison Russell, SS
- Ian Happ, CF
- Jen-Ho Tseng, P
Considering that Marlins right-hander Jose Urena has been tough on righties this season …
Versus Lefties: .349 wOBA
Versus Righties: .286 wOBA
… it only makes sense that, if Joe Maddon/the training staff was on the bubble with Baez tonight, the desire to get an additional lefty in there would have tipped the scales. Hopefully, that’s really what this is.
And for what it’s worth, after having not one single lefty in the game last night (thanks to three switch-hitters), the Cubs have six guys hitting from the left side tonight (Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo, Victor Caratini, Tommy La Stella, and Ian Happ). Interesting that Zobrist and Happ get the call over Jason Heyward in this one.
I’m particularly glad to see Happ in there after launching his fourth and fifth homer of the season last night, because his first homer of the year came off tonight’s starter (and sent me into the lake) on the first pitch of the season. Elsewhere, Willson Contreras gets a breather, in favor of the switch-hitting Caratini.
As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ closer to game time (7:05 CT).