Today, the Chicago Cubs can guarantee themselves a much-needed series win against the Brewers, but they’ll have to do it against one pitcher that has had their number all season: Gio Gonzalez.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Nicholas Castellanos, LF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Javy Baez, SS
- Willson Contreras, C
- Albert Almora Jr., CF
- David Bote, 2B
- Cole Hamels, P
Yes, this lineup has everything the Cubs have thrown at their toughest southpaws all season – Bote on the infield, Almora in center, Schwarber on the bench, etc. – but it has one things none of those lineups ever had: Nicholas Castellanos.
I don’t want to put too much stock or too much weight into a player’s likelihood to succeed in any one, specific game – even the very best will take an 0-fer every now and then – but this was basically the exact reason the Cubs brought Castellanos in at the deadline: production against lefties.
This season, Castellanos is slashing .347/.415/.611 (166 wRC+) against left-handed pitchers, which if you’re wondering, would be somewhere in-between George Springer and Christian Yelich’s overall season slash lines this year. Let’s hope history holds up.
And, as usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ post closer to game time (1:20 CT) – and I’ll see you at John Baker Day! Go Cubs.