NEWSLETTER
Scoring 10 runs on 12 hits and knocking four long balls out of the park is one way to kick off a homestand. Now, the Chicago Cubs on the brink of putting together a three-game winning streak! Yes, it counts as a streak!
Tyler Chatwood takes the ball for the Cubs and is making his first start since returning from paternity leave. Chatwood squares off against a Minnesota lineup that features four left-handed hitters and a pair of switch-hitters. That’s no coincidence from Paul Molitor, who clearly hopes to capitalize on a pitcher whom lefties have hit to the tune of .278/.429/.421 in 171 plate appearances. Right-handed hitters have struggled against Chatwood this season, piecing together a .165 average and .220 slugging percentage … but there are only three of them (one of whom is the starting pitcher) in today’s starting lineup.
I suppose today figures to be a good day to swing the bat, even if Cubs hitters don’t have much of a book on Adalberto Mejia. So while the Twins’ starter has the advantage of being an unknown commodity, Cubs hitters do have some noteworthy platoon advantages.
Joe Maddon sends out his lefty-masher lineup, which includes four players with a wRC+ of 115 or better in 2018. And why wouldn’t he? Right-handed hitters against Mejia hit .283/.461/.461 in 367 PA last season. Lefties didn’t have as much good fortune, though they still slashed .271/.329/.471 in 76 PA as they drew fewer walks but slugged at a higher percentage. Either way, opponents posted an OPS above .800 against Mejia last year. Swing away, gents.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (45-35) vs. Minnesota Twins (35-43) – Saturday, June 30 at 1:20 CT on ABC-7 Chicago, MLB Network (out-of-market only), 670 The Score
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun today.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Tyler Chatwood (R): 3.95 ERA, 4.92 FIP; 1.02 K/BB
versus
Twins: Adalberto Mejia (L): 2.74 ERA, 2.83 FIP; 3.13 K/BB at Triple-A Rochester
Minnesota Twins Lineup:
- Joe Mauer, 1B
- Eduardo Escobar, 3B
- Eddie Rosario, LF
- Brian Dozier, 2B
- Max Kepler, RF
- Ehire Adrianza, SS
- Jake Cave, CF
- Bobby Wilson, C
- Adalberto Mejia, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Albert Almora Jr., CF
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Willson Contreras, C
- Ben Zobrist, LF
- Addison Russell, SS
- David Bote, 3B
- Tyler Chatwood, P
