Cubs vs Twins: Lineups, Pitching Matchup, How to Watch, Game Thread

May 14, 2023, by Michael Cerami Chicago Cubs

It’s a real shame yesterday’s Cubs game was totally rained out. Pretty sure we would’ve had that one. Oh, well. Here’s a look at the Cubs lineup for the finale in Minnesota. Marcus Stroman is on the mound for the Cubbies and someone named Louie Varland is pitching for the Twins. How about a little run support for Stroman this time, eh?

Chicago Cubs Lineup:

Chris Morel, CF
Dansby Swanson, SS
Ian Happ, LF
Seiya Suzuki, RF
Patrick Wisdom, 3B
Trey Mancini, DH
Matt Mervis, 1B
Yan Gomes, C
Nick Madrigal, 2B

If you didn’t know better, you might think the Cubs were facing a lefty today (Varland is a righty). Patrick Wisdom is batting fifth, Cody Bellinger is out of the Cubs lineup, while Eric Hosmer, Tucker Barnhart, and Miles Mastrobuoni are all on the bench. That leaves Matt Mervis as the only true lefty in the Cubs lineup (though there’s also the switch-hitter, Ian Happ).

With Bellinger out, Morel is back in the starting lineup. This time he’s covering center field, while reclaiming leadoff duties from Nick Madrigal, even though Madrigal is also starting. Not sure Ross can make up his mind while Hoerner is out, but seems like a pretty easy decision to me. Gomes is back behind the plate and Mancini is your DH.

Minnesota Twins Lineup:

Joey Gallo, LF
Max Kirilloff, 1B
Carlos Correa, SS
Byron Buxton, DH
Jorge Polanco, 2B
Trevor Larnach, RF
Kyle Farmer, 3B
Nick Gordon, CF
Christian Vázquez, C

Pitching Matchup:

Chicago Cubs: Marcus Stroman, RHP

The Cubs lineup certainly did not have the matchup advantage yesterday with the inconsistent Hayden Wesneski going up against Joe Ryan, but they have one today. Marcus Stroman has been absolutely locked in for all but one game this season, and just rattled off three straight quality starts (combined): 18.1 IP, 15H, 5ER, 6BB, 14K. Let’s just hope the Cubs actually provide some run support this time.

Notable Matchups:

Vázquez: 8-21, 2 2Bs, BB, 3K
Correa: 3-8, BB, 2K
Gallo: 3-6, 2B, HR, 2BB, K

Minnesota Twins: Louie Varland, RHP

I’m not particularly familiar with Twins righty Louie Varland, so you’ll have to excuse the broader insight here. From what I can glean, he’s a top-10 Twins prospect this season, who made his big league debut last season, but started this year back out in Triple-A. After three starts in the minors, Varland made his way back to the Twins to replace the injured Kenta Maeda. Statcast likes Varland, who has high marks in extension, fastball spin rate, whiff rate, chase rate, and, naturally, strikeout rate (25Ks in 15 IP this year!). Varland is a four-seam (mid-90s), cutter, changeup, slider guy. No one in the Cubs lineup has ever seen him.