The Cubs got off to a roaring start last night, with a good performance from the offense and Jon Lester. Let’s hope they can get out to an early 2-0 lead over the Braves in the series with another win tonight. Here’s the lineup for game 2 against Max Fried.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Kris Bryant, RF
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Javy Baez, SS
- Willson Contreras, C
- David Bote, 3B
- Addison Russell, 2B
- Adbert Alzolay, P
- Albert Almora Jr., CF
Jason Heyward might be heating up, but with a lefty, Max Fried, on the mound tonight, Joe Maddon is going with his “maximum righties” lineup.
That means an infield with David Bote at third and Addison Russell at second base, as well as an outfield with Albert Almora Jr. in center field and Kris Bryant out in right. The bench, then, is all lefties (Carlos Gonzalez, Daniel Descalso, Jason Heyward) plus the switch-hitting backup catcher Victor Caratini.
For what it’s worth, Almora, Baez, Bote, Bryant, Contreras, Heyward, Rizzo, and Schwarber are a combined 0-23 lifetime against Fried. Carlos Gonzalez has a single, a walk, and a strikeout in five plate appearances against him.
Reminder: The leadoff hitter, Schwarber, is actually split-neutral this season, with an exactly league average 100 wRC+ against both lefties and righties. As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ closer to game time (7:05 CT). And once again, join Luis and I after the postgame for another episode of Outside the Ivy on NBC Sports Chicago (you can also watch on Facebook!).