NEWSLETTER
I was hoping we’d also get Ian Happ back tonight, but I’ll take what I can get. The Cubs have activated tonight’s starter, Jake Arrieta, and the starting second baseman (or perhaps center fielder?), Nico Hoerner, from the injured list.
In exchange, reliever Jason Adam and outfielder Nick Martini are heading back to Triple-A Iowa. Thanks, boys. I’m sure we’ll see you both soon.
Today’s Cubs moves:
• RHP Jake Arrieta, INF Nico Hoerner activated from 10-day IL
• RHP Jason Adam, OF Nick Martini optioned to Triple-A Iowa— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) May 14, 2021
Now, remember, this is a step in the right direction, but Happ and Jake Marisnick (and other primary contributors like Austin Romine, Dan Winkler, Trevor Megill, Shelby Miller, and Rowan Wick) are all still on the injured list. Meanwhile, each of Javy Baez, Jason Heyward, and Kris Bryant have missed time lately for various bumps, bruises, and sicknesses.
Theoretically, we should see Bryant, Baez, and Hoerner in the lineup against a lefty tonight (fingers crossed), but we’ll have to wait and see. And as I teased above, I do wonder if Hoerner will get time in center field, so that Bryant can cover left (for Joc Pederson) or right (for Heyward) against the lefty. That would allow the Cubs to keep Matt Duffy and David Bote in the lineup around the infield. We’ll find out soon enough.
UPDATE: Nope. Lineup just came out, with Bryant in center field and Hoerner at second base. Bote is the designated hitter – which I had forgotten about as a way to keep his bat in there, with Heyward and Pederson in the outfield corners. This makes the most sense for the defense. Full lineup post coming shortly.
