NEWSLETTER
Note: The Pirates switched things up on the mound today. After Ivan Nova, today’s originally scheduled starter, was sent to the disabled list, they called up Nick Kingham to start in his place.
Here’s the Cubs lineup versus the young righty.
- Ben Zobrist, 2B
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Willson Contreras, C
- Ian Happ, CF
- Addison Russell, SS
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Jon Lester, P
Kingham has only made three big league starts in his career, and so far, he’s actually been tougher on lefties, than righties. But given this lineup – the absence of Albert Almora and Javy Baez, in particular – I’m willing to bet that Kingham’s Minor League splits show something very different. And as such, three of the first four and seven of the total nine batters he’ll face tonight will hit from the left side of the plate. Ben Zobrist is leading off and playing second base in place of Javy Baez and Ian Happ is out there in center.
Willson Contreras returns to the lineup, after Chris Gimenez covered for him yesterday, and that no-good, dirty-rotten, terrible-human-being Anthony Rizzo is playing first. Kyle Schwarber gets the two-hole billing and Addison Russell is at short.
As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ closer to game time (6:05 CT).
