NEWSLETTER
Cubs Lineup — Let’s Play Two! The Chicago Cubs have a double-header on tap this afternoon, making up a game from all the way back in April. Jordan Wicks will start Game 1 of the twin-billing, in what will be his second start of the season. If this one goes anything like his first, I think we’d all be thrilled. Here’s a look at the Cubs lineup for the first of two games today.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Mike Tauchman, CF
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Ian Happ, LF
- Cody Bellinger, 1B
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Chris Morel, DH
- Miguel Amaya, C
- Nick Madrigal, 3B
Usually, when you’ve got a double-header on tap, you don’t see quite such a normal lineup in Game 1. But pretty much all of the regular Cubs starters are in there this afternoon. The only notable absence in this one is Jeimer Candelario. And, well, I guess Yan Gomes, but he and Miguel Amaya were always going to split this day up.
So maybe in Game 2 we’ll get a similar group overall, but with Yan Gomes behind the plate, Jeimer Candelario at third base, and one of these outfielders at DH, so that Alexander Canario can make his Major League Debut? That would work for me and keep enough guys fresh. I’m already annoyed we have to wait another eight hours for Canario, but it’ll be worth it.
Cincinnati Reds Lineup:
- Harrison Bader, CF
- Spencer Steer, 2B
- Elly De La Cruz, SS
- Hunter Renfroe, RF
- Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B
- Nick Senzel, 3B
- Tyler Stephenson, C
- Noelvi Marte, DH
- Stuart Fairchild, LF
Pitching Matchup:
Chicago Cubs: Jordan Wicks, LHP
Jordan Wicks MLB debut got off to a shaky start — going homer, rocket single, walk — but the rookie left-hander with a killer changeup absolutely locked the Pirates DOWN after that. And by the end of the game, he had allowed just the one run while striking out NINE batters. The Reds lineup is stronger than the Pirates (and Great American Ballpark is much-more hitter-friendly than PNC), but I’m excited to see what he can do. On the bright side, the Reds haven’t been particularly strong against lefties this year (94 wRC+) and especially in the second-half (74 wRC+).
Cincinnati Reds: Graham Ashcraft, RHP
If you want to a good idea of who the Cubs lineup is about to face in Graham Ashcraft, you have to look beyond the season numbers. Because while those results are quite poor (4.73 ERA, 5.11 FIP), the 25-year-old righty has been on an absolutely TEAR since the end of June: 11 starts, 71.2 IP, 2.39 ERA. Only one of those games was not a quality start (and in that one, he still went 5.1 innings against the Brewers with just two earned runs and 8Ks).
And perhaps most valuably — ahead of a four-game series opening with a double-header — Ashcraft pitches DEEP into games. He’s gone fewer than 5.0 innings only four times this season (out of 25), he’s thrown at least six innings 15 times, and he’s pitched into the 7th in five straight games coming into this one (finishing it four times). If the Reds can save their bullpen better than the Cubs early in this series, that could be a big factor.
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs (71-62) vs Cincinnati Reds (69-56) at 12:10 pm CT on MARQ, MLBN, 670 The Score
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