Hey, the Cubs are healing up! For the first time since late-May, David Bote, Nico Hoerner, Jake Marisnick, and Matt Duffy are all back together on the active roster again. Bote is the latest return (more on the roster move in a second), and he’s in the starting lineup for the finale against the Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
1. Willson Contreras, C
2. Kris Bryant, RF
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Javy Baez, SS
5. Patrick Wisdom, LF
6. Jake Marisnick, CF
7. David Bote, 3B
8. Nico Hoerner, 2B
9. Trevor Williams, P
With a lefty on the mound for the Diamondbacks today, David Ross has loaded his lineup with righties, including David Bote at third base, which pushes Patrick Wisdom out to left field. Kris Bryant sticks in the other corner outfield spot and Jake Marisnick is in center. There was not quite room for Matt Duffy, and that’s with starting TWO third basemen in the outfield, but that problem may persist beyond the trade deadline (Bote, Duffy, and Wisdom are all third basemen and with Nico Hoerner back, there’s not even room at second base for Bote). We’ll see how Ross continues to handle it.
With Happ and Heyward on the bench, Anthony Rizzo is the only left-handed batter in the lineup today. Caleb Smith doesn’t have particularly strong splits, but, that’s only half the battle. Cubs hitters have splits of their own, and today, David Ross is counting on those shining through. Here’s to a big, welcomed return for David Bote and a W at Wrigley Field.
As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ post closer to game time (1:20 CT).