NEWSLETTER
Friday’s game was banged due to Chicago’s hellish spring weather, but the sun’s out today and the Cubs and Brewers are running it back.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
1. Rafael Ortega, DH
2. Nick Madrigal, 2B
3. Willson Contreras, C
4. Ian Happ, LF
5. Frank Schwindel, 1B
6. Seiya Suzuki, RF
7. Jason Heyward, CF
8. Patrick Wisdom, 3B
9. Nico Hoerner, SS
Both the Cubs (Justin Steele) and Brewers (Brandon Woodruff) are using their originally scheduled starters from Friday in today’s game, but the Cubs lineup is different than what was initially announced.
Instead of Clint Frazier getting his first start in the outfield (and at leadoff), Rafael Ortega is back in the lineup up top, where he was on Opening Day. That one makes some sense, even if I was/am anxious to see Frazier in there as soon as possible.
Instead of the lefty, Alfonso Rivas, at first base, Frank Schwindel is back in the lineup. Again, in a vacuum, that’s fine. Rivas is sort of here for exactly this reason (tough righties with high heat), but I understand that Schwindel likely has the more considerable upside and is the nominal starter.
Nico Hoerner is back in the lineup at shortstop, which I’m happy to see, but he’s bouncing Jonathan Villar out of the batting order, not Patrick Wisdom, whose greatest struggle (high heat) exactly matches Woodruff’s strength.
So while this lineup is a more typical look for this Cubs team, and indeed was the exact group on Opening Day, I am a little surprised to see the changes we saw in store for Friday be taken back. I wonder if someone was not feeling 100%, but healed up over the off-day? Or maybe someone woke up with some pain today? I really don’t know why it’s different 24 hours later. But maybe we’ll find out when Ross speaks after the game.
As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ post closer to game time (1:20 CT).
