The Cubs and Red Sox are back at it this evening after a thrilling Cubs comeback at Wrigley Field yesterday. Alec Mills is pitching for Chicago and Boston is throwing the right-hander Josh Winckowski. Here’s David Ross’ lineup for Game 2.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Rafael Ortega, CF
- Willson Contreras, DH
- Ian Happ, LF
- Patrick Wisdom, 3B
- Nico Hoerner, SS
- Yan Gomes, C
- Narciso Crook, RF
- Alfonso Rivas, 1B
- Christopher Morel, 2B
SP: Alec Mills, RHP
I don’t know if you’ve realized this, but Willson Contreras hasn’t caught back-to-back games in 12 days. Obviously part of that calculus – at least, at the beginning of the year – is just keep him fresh and hitting well. But now, I think it’s pretty clearly about preserving him ahead of the trade deadline.
Since June 11, Contreras has been the DH in 11 games and has caught just 10. There’s nothing weird about that I’m just pointing it out. And in the meantime, Yan Gomes has been handling the pitching staff extremely well and Contreras is still mashing. Win-win.
After a game back up top, Christopher Morel is back at the bottom of the order tonight, with Rafael Ortega leading off and playing center field. Nelson Velázquez is the odd man out of this one, with Ian Happ in left and Narciso Crook in right.
Happ has reached base safely 3x in three straight games (and was actually on four times yesterday, if you include the error). Happ’s .386 OBP is 12th highest in MLB, tucked neatly between Freddie Freeman and Bryce Harper.
As usual, we’ll have your full Pre-Gamin’ post closer to game time (6:15 CT).