Cubs vs Phillies: Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread
If you’ve been checked out this weekend, it’s been a series of blowouts in Philadelphia. On Friday, the Cubs won a 10-1 laugher. And yesterday, they were on the receiving end of a 12-3 romp. That makes today’s game a rubber match, with the series on the line. I like the Cubs chances though, with Justin Steele back on the mound. Though this isn’t necessarily the strongest Cubs lineup we’ve seen this season.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Ian Happ, LF
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Michael Tauchman, CF
- Chris Morel, DH
- Matt Mervis, 1B
- Miles Mastrobuoni, 3B
- Tucker Barnhart, C
Is it just me or does David Ross save his weakest lineups for Tucker Barnhart days? The Cubs are already behind the eight ball when Barnhart needs to start in place of Yan Gomes, but it feels like we always get the alternates at the same time. Today, for example, Miles Mastrobuoni is in the Cubs lineup at third base and Mike Tauchman is your starting center fielder in place of the injured Cody Bellinger.
And while Chris Morel is still in the Cubs lineup by way of designated hitter, he’s batting sixth behind Tauchman for some reason. Whatever. He’ll hit a home run anyway. That’s what he does. Go Cubs.
Philadelphia Phillies Lineup:
Pitching Matchup:
Chicago Cubs: Justin Steele, LHP
Justin Steele had his first clunker of the year his last time out, and the crazy part is it wasn’t even all that bad. He still went six innings and struck out eight Astros against just one walk. Oh, and he did it all while battling flu-like symptoms. He gets a pass. He’s having a monster season and I think we’ll look back on that start as nothing more than a blip. (But it would still be cool of the Cubs lineup spotted him 10 runs).
Philadelphia Phillies: Taijuan Walker, RHP
I feel like Taijuan Walker has been around FOREVER and yet somehow he’s still only 30-years-old. I guess that’s what happens when you debut at age-20. Anyway, it’s been a rough season for Walker, who’s got a 6.53 ERA over his first nine starts, but he’s actually mixed in a few nice games. Four of his nine starts were at least 6.0 innings with no more than three earned runs. He’s just had multiple REALLY bad games throwing off the numbers (he didn’t even make it out of the first inning his last time out). In other words, he’s either been ON-on or OFF-off all year. Hopefully today is one of the latter. Wa
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs (20-25) vs Philadelphia Phillies (21-24) at 12:35 pm CT on MARQ, MLBN, 670 The Score
