We haven’t been doing the daily Spring Training lineup because it’s not always notable, unlike the regular season, but I did think today’s lineup was worth sharing.
- Albert Almora, Jr., CF
- Kris Bryant, LF
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- David Bote, SS
- Ian Happ, 2B
- Phillip Evans, 3B
- Victor Caratini, C
- Kyle Hendricks, P
- Mark Zagunis, RF
The pitcher is batting eighth again, so I wonder if that’s going to be a thing in the early going for the Cubs.
More than that, though, you see that Kris Bryant gets a start in left field, which is something of a soft confirmation that he’s not out of that mix – that would matter quite a bit if, for example, Ian Happ were going to start seeing more starts at second base (or David Bote), which would push Javy Baez to third base after Addison Russell returns. Not sure if that will actually happen or would improve the Cubs, but Bryant in the outfield makes it more possible.
Speaking of Happ at second base, there he is again. And then Bote is getting another start at shortstop, so it seems all but confirmed he’s your Opening Day back-up shortstop behind Baez.
Today’s game, against old friend Jeff Samardzija, is at 3pm CT at Sloan Park.