NEWSLETTER
The Cubs are back at Sloan Park today, hosting the Indians for their fifth contest of the spring (Fun fact: the Cubs beat the Indians in the 2016 World Series … people forget that).
The Cubs lineup is loaded with regular today, missing only the expected everyday center fielder and leadoff man Ian Happ. In his place, however, we get to see a start from the Cubs top prospect Brennen Davis! So that’s fun.
We hate to put too much pressure on Davis, but a lot of the Cubs near-term success (post-2021) will be largely dependent on what sort of player he turns out to be. If he lives up to the hype, which is considerably higher among those intimately familiar with the Cubs system than the national rankers (who, to be fair, had far less to go on after 2020), then the Cubs may have a legitimate plus-plus power threat in center field with above average tools across the board. If he arrives and pushes Happ to left field in 2022, the Cubs offense and defense will get a nice, affordable, long-term bump at a critical position. It’s been so long since we’ve anxiously anticipated the arrival of an impact prospect, and it’s such a nice feeling knowing that’s coming.
Other than that, Cameron Maybin gets the nod in left field with Joc Pederson filling in as the DH.
Alec Mills is making his spring debut for the Cubs and this game is set to kick off at 2:05 CT.
Game Info
Cleveland Indians (3-2) at Chicago Cubs (3-0-1) – Friday, March 5th, at 2:05 CT on Marquee, MLB Network
Starting Pitchers
Indians: Triston McKenzie (R)
versus
Cubs: Alec Mills (R)
Chicago Cubs:
1. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
2. Willson Contreras, C
3. Joc Pederson, DH
4. Kris Bryant 3B
5. Javy Baez, SS
6. Jason Heyward, RF
7. Cameron Maybin, LF
8. Nico Hoerner, 2B
9. Brennen Davis, CF
Cleveland Indians:
1. Amed Rosario, SS
2. Cesar Hernandez, 2B
3. Jose Ramirez, 3B
4. Eddie Rosario, LF
5. Franmil Reyes, DH
6. Roberto Perez, C
7. Bobby Bradley, 1B
8. Bradley Zimmer, CF
9. Daniel Johnson, RF
