Game 1 of Cactus League action. Day 2 of Spring Training games. Game 3 of the year.
The Chicago Cubs are back at it tonight against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Hooray for baseball, and all that jazz, but I have good news and bad news for you.
The good news is that this one will also be televised on Marquee *and* there are several regulars in the lineup tonight. The bad news is that this one starts at 9:05 CT, which … for a Spring Training game is a tough ask.
Either way, there’s a lot to look forward to tonight, from Marcus Stroman’s first start in a Cubs uniform, to early eyes on Nico Hoerner, Clint Frazier, and Greg Deichmann, who might figure into the Cubs outfield picture before the year is up.
Hoerner is leading off today’s game and playing shortstop, something he may not do as much as we initially thought this year (Andrelton Simmons might take away starts at shortstop and Nick Madrigal might take away leadoff opportunities). Either way, I think we’re going to see a lot of Hoerner this season, in a variety of roles, and I’m very excited to see him stay healthy and put it all together. He remains a potentially very good piece for the Cubs, if he can just stay on the dang field.
Yan Gomes is getting another go of it behind the plate, Rafael Ortega is drawing the start in center, and Frank “The Tank” Schwindel get his first start of the spring at first base. Beyond that, I’m very excited to see more of Nelson Velazquez. The 23-year-old outfielder (DH-ing tonight) absolutely exploded in Double-A last season (.290/.358/.581; 156 wRC+) and is now firmly one of the Cubs top-15 prospects (in this system, right now, that’s very high praise). Velazquez could conceivably contribute to the big league team in the second half of this season, and that journey starts tonight.
Okay, that’s all I’ve got for you. Go Cubs. Let’s do that baseball.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants – Friday, March 18 at 9:05 CT on MARQ
Starting Pitchers
Giants: Brandon Webb (R)
versus
Cubs: Marcus Stroman (R)
Chicago Cubs:
1. Nico Hoerner, SS
2. Rafael Ortega, CF
3. Frank Schwindel, CF
4. Clint Frazier, LF
5. Yan Gomes, C
6. Ildemaro Vargas, 2B
7. Greg Deichmann, RF
8. Nelson Velazquez, DH
9. Dixon Machado, 3B
San Francisco Giants:
1. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
2. Wilmer Flores, 1B
3. Jason Krizan, 2B
4. Joey Bart, C
5. Jason Vosler, 3B
6. Luis Gonzalez, LF
7. Jaylin Davis, CF
8. Ka’ai Tom, DH
9. Mauricio Dubon, SS