NEWSLETTER
The Cubs are starting a brand new series against the Mets this evening, and here’s how they’ll line up.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Daniel Murphy, 2B
- Javy Baez, SS
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Ben Zobrist, RF
- Jason Heyward, CF
- Willson Contreras, C
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Jon Lester, P
- David Bote, 3B
The Cubs will face one of the toughest pitchers in baseball tonight, Noah Syndergaard, but will do so with what’s arguably their best offensive group – at least, at the moment. Indeed, with Addison Russell on the DL and Ian Happ, Albert Almora, Tommy La Stella, and Victor Caratini on the bench, there may be some defensive value lost with this particular alignment/batting order, but it’s been done with an eye towards keeping the offense cooking, no doubt.
Just some random cold-water for you, because I just stubbed my toe and I want you to also feel pain:
I. Happ does not have a multi-hit game in the 2nd half (68 wRC+),
A. Almora has been *even worse* than that (67 wRC+), and
A. Russell has been **even worse** than that (37 wRC+).— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) August 27, 2018
And, sure, for his career, Syndergaard has been tougher on righties than lefties, but that gap is far narrower this season, so as to not give anyone an advantage. Plus, with Jacob deGrom looming tomorrow, things don’t figure to get much easier.
And while Kris Bryant may be in a Cubs lineup tonight (the Iowa Cubs!), he certainly won’t be back by the time this series is through. Hopefully, Daniel Murphy, Javy Baez, David Bote, Kyle Schwarber, and the NL Player of the Week Anthony Rizzo can keep the heat turned up.
As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ closer to game time (7:05 CT).
