Tonight, Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs will take on Tyler Mahle and Reds in the first of a four-game weekend (double-header tomorrow). Here’s how David Ross will line his guys up for the first game of the series.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
1. Ian Happ, CF
2. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
3. Javy Baez, SS
4. Kyle Schwarber, LF
5. Willson Contreras, DH
6. Jason Heyward, RF
7. David Bote, 3B
8. Victor Caratini, C
9. Jason Kipnis, 2B
I really like the Cubs matchup today, with Kyle Hendricks on the mound against a Reds team who’s been worse against right-handed pitching this season. But I’m even more intrigued by the matchup with Tyler Mahle and the Cubs left-handed power hitters.
I even put my money where my mouth is:
With Hendricks on the mound, you feel good about #Cubs chances to win anyway, but also note that #Reds have been much worse against RHP in 2020 (93 wRC+).
Yes, Hendricks' one bad start of the year was @ Cin, but I'm not betting on repeat …
Bet here: https://t.co/H9Bdez7IXN
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) August 28, 2020
With all that in mind, I'm betting on top-half power-hitting lefties (Happ, Rizzo, Schwarber) to homer off a HR-prone SP in a homer-friendly park and the Cubs to win with one of their best pitchers on the mound given how HUGE the odds are.
Bet here: https://t.co/H9Bdez7IXN
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) August 28, 2020
If you haven’t already signed up for any or all of DraftKings, BetRivers, or our newest partner, FanDuel, be sure to click those links, make a deposit, get some awesome bonuses for signing up with us, and make some money gambling on baseball (but also be responsible … baseball’s a tough sport to bet on).
With all of that out of the way (thank you for being patient with us, it remains hugely important to us this year), I will point out that with Victor Caratini behind the plate tonight, not Willson Contreras, I’m guessing Yu Darvish will be pitching the second half of tomorrow’s double-header, not the first.
Other than that, the lineup is pretty straight-forward versus a righty. The Cubs like hitting in Cincinnati, so let’s hope Kyle Hendricks is on top of his game and kicks this extended series off on the right foot.
As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ post closer to game time.