The Chicago Cubs are dead last in the NL Central and have the worst run differential in MLB.
How have we gotten there? Well, despite generally usable pitching performances out of the rotation and bullpen, the offense has been brutally bad, and there aren’t many options on the bench or in the minors/alternate site that’d be able to make it better. Long story short, *these* are your 2021 Chicago Cubs, and they’ll just have to do better if they want to be better.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
1. Ian Happ, CF
2. Willson Contreras, C
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Kris Bryant, 3B
5. Joc Pederson, LF
6. Javy Baez, SS
7. Jason Heyward, RF
8. David Bote, 3B
9. Trevor Williams, P
There are no real changes to David Ross’ lineup yet, but I’ve got no problem with that. At some point, you’ll have to change it up just because, but I’m willing to ride with this group a little longer – especially because, despite his poor batting average, hitter #1, Ian Happ, actually has a .333 OBP (2nd highest on the team), hitter #2, Willson Contreras, has actually been really hot lately, and hitter #4, Kris Bryant, has been solid, as well. And since I’m just not going to drop hitter #3, Anthony Rizzo, out of the top-4 anytime soon, there are not many immediate changes that I think make all that much sense.
The only real difference today is David Bote’s return to the lineup in place of Eric Sogard. Those two have been operating as something closer to a platoon than expected, but Bote is in there against a righty today.
Statcast Corner
Today’s starter, Huascar Ynoa, is almost a two-pitch pitcher (fastball-slider), unfortunately, his fastball is 97 MPH and the Cubs have just had so much trouble against velocity over the years and especially this season it’s tough to be optimistic.
As usual, we’ll have your full pre-gamin’ post closer to game time (1:20 CT).