When Alec Mills returned to the Cubs last month, Mark Leiter Jr. shifted back into his long/swing-man role in the bullpen. HOWEVA, Mills left his last start in the first inning with an injury, and that basically turned into a start for Leiter Jr.
And it was a good start, at that: 5. 1 IP, 3H, 1ER, 1BB, 5Ks … against the Red Sox!
He’ll have an even tougher matchup tonight against the Dodgers, but maybe he can help the Cubs eek through a first-half defined by the decimation of their starting rotation.
Leiter Jr. will be going up against Tony Gonsolin tonight, who’s been absolutely lights out in 15 starts: 1.54 ERA (2.81 xERA), .155 batting average against.
Good luck, Cubs. You’re gonna need it.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (34-48) at Los Angeles Dodgers – Thursday, July 7 at 9:10 CT on MARQ, 670 The Score
Starting Pitchers
Dodgers: Tony Gonsolin, RHP
Cubs: Mark Leiter Jr., RHP
Chicago Cubs (Lineup Discussion):
- Rafael Ortega, DH
- Nico Hoerner, SS
- Ian Happ, LF
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Patrick Wisdom, 3B
- Alfonso Rivas, 1B
- Yan Gomes, C
- Christopher Morel, CF
- Andrelton Simmons, 2B
Los Angeles Dodgers:
- Mookie Betts, RF
- Trea Turner, SS
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Will Smith, C
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Justin Turner, DH
- Cody Bellinger, CF
- Trayce Thompson, LF
- Gavin Lux, 2B