Chicago Cubs Lineup: No Baez, No Bryant, No Contreras (UPDATE: Baez Available, Day Off for Bryant)

June 9, 2021, by Michael Cerami Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are lining up against old friends Yu Darvish and Victor Caratini in San Diego today. It’s a rubber match and the Cubs are without a number of key regulars, some scheduled, some injured, some unexpected. Let’s see what David Ross has got for us today.

Chicago Cubs Lineup:

1. Joc Pederson, LF
2. Ian Happ, 2B
3. Patrick Wisdom, 3B
4. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
5. Rafael Ortega, CF
6. Jason Heyward, RF
7. Sergio Alcantara, SS
8. P.J. Higgins, C
9. Jake Arrieta, P

So up front, it’s no surprise to see Willson Contreras sitting after catching the late game last night. That was expected. But with Javy Baez still out and Kris Bryant getting the day off(?)*, it does leave much to be desired in this lineup.

*Bryant was removed from last night’s game, but I had assumed it was just because the Cubs were up by 7 runs late. Fernando Tatis Jr. came out too, for example. Let’s hope this is just rest, but let’s keep our eyes peeled.

At least Ian Happ is filtering back in by way of replacing Eric Sogard at second base. You’ll recall that Happ used to play a lot of second base, but has pretty much abandoned it as a starter in favor of the outfield for a while now (he hasn’t started there since September 2019). This could be a good opportunity to get his bat in the lineup while Nico Hoerner is out and while Patrick Wisdom is demanding a spot in the starting lineup (which normally pushes Kris Bryant to the outfield).

Sergio Alcantara is covering for Baez at shortstop, Rafael Ortega is playing in Bryant’s vacant outfield spot, and P.J. Higgins is behind the plate.

This is not the Cubs strongest lineup against one of the toughest pitchers they’ll face this season. So … let’s see if they can pull a rabbit out of … somewhere.

As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ post closer to game time.

UPDATE: It looks like it is just a day off for Bryant and that Baez is available off the bench.

Ross called it just a “day off” for Bryant. Said “everybody’s dealing with something,” joking then that even the manager is dealing with a sore back.

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) June 9, 2021