The Chicago Cubs have dropped two back-to-back disappointing games against the Padres at a critical time in their season, so they’re trying something different tonight in San Diego: Bringing back the GLOAT.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:Â
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Nicholas Castellanos, RF
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Victor Caratini, C
- Jason Heyward, CF
- Ian Happ, 2B
- Nico Hoerner, SS
- Yu Darvish, P
This is one of those lineups that might’ve blown your mind back in April, right? Anthony Rizzo is leading off, Nicholas Castellanos is *on the Cubs,* Kyle Schwarber is hitting well enough to bat third, Victor Caratini is behind the plate and batting 5th, Ian Happ is starting and playing second base, and Nico Hoerner is the starting shortstop. There’s just a lot going there.
But the biggest thing, no doubt, is the return of the Greatest Leadoff Hitter of All Time. In case you forgot how good the numbers are, here’s Anthony Rizzo’s career production out of the top-spot in the lineup (207 PAs): .322/.415/.598 (163 wRC+); 11.1% walk rate and 12.1% strikeout rate.
The change doesn’t seem like much of a coincidence, given Theo Epstein’s comments earlier today, so let’s hope Rizzo remembers how to do his thing in the top spot. And, you know, it’s funny: I know Rizzo is an atypical leadoff hitter for a lot of traditional reasons, but … like … if he can do it exceptionally well and no one else can seemingly at all, this should probably just be a permanent thing until the roster gets a change, right?
As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ post closer to game time (2:40 CT).