The Cubs and Brewers will play their first of four-straight games at Wrigley Field tonight – that is, if the rain holds up. Freddy Peralta is on the mound for Milwaukee, and this is how David Ross will counter.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
1. Rafael Ortega, CF
2. Willson Contreras, C
3. Ian Happ, LF
4. Patrick Wisdom, 3B
5. Greg Deichmann, RF
6. Frank Schwindel, 1B
7. Andrew Romine, SS
8. Sergio Alcantara, 2B
9. Alec Mills, P
To be honest, I’m still getting used to this group essentially becoming the Cubs “everyday” starting lineup. No, a healthy Nick Madrigal and Nico Hoerner wouldn’t change the fate of this team, but at least there’d be a little more shine to it. This is just so … blah. And it’s also the same talking points over and over: I hope Ian Happ takes advantage of the extra playing time. I hope Willson Contreras stays healthy. I hope Patrick Wisdom works on the strikeouts. I hope Rafael Ortega, Greg Deichmann, Sergio Alcantara, and Frank Schwindel are able to prove their worthiness of 2022 bench spots by the end of the year.
All of that remains important, as does Alec Mills continued success (fingers crossed), but it doesn’t make it any less depressing.
Don’t worry, I won’t lament the lineup every day from now until the end of the season, but the wound is still a little fresh and it’s Monday.
As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ post closer to game time.