NEWSLETTER
CUBS LINEUP — For as rough as it has felt at times against the Braves this season, the Cubs still have a chance to split the season-series with a win this afternoon. And while the Cubs are rolling with a bullpen game, the Braves are starting a rookie with a 6.10 ERA in Triple-A this season. EASY. Sure, that rookie also happens to be the Braves top prospect and a top-100 prospect overall … but I’m choosing to look on the bright side.
Here’s a look at the Cubs lineup for the finale against the Braves at Wrigley Field.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Mike Tauchman, LF
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Cody Bellinger, CF
- Chris Morel, 3B
- Ian Happ, DH
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Michael Busch, 1B
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Yan Gomes, C
On paper this Cubs lineup looks good. In practice, basically this exact group has struggled for a few weeks now. I don’t know if today will be the day they turn it all around, but I also simply do not believe Seiya Suzuki (for one random example) is going to slump like this for much longer. He’s simply too good of a hitter.
I’ve also noticed a handful of good plate appearances for Ian Happ lately. Hopefully, those teeny-tiny-early signs of life lead to more substantial gains at the plate.
Atlanta Braves Lineup:
- Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
- Ozzie Albies, 2B
- Marcell Ozuna, DH
- Matt Olson, 1B
- Orlando Arcia, SS
- Michael Harris II, CF
- Jared Kelenic, LF
- Chadwick Tromp, C
- Luke Williams, 3B
Pitching Matchup:
Chicago Cubs: Ben Brown, RHP
Ben Brown is nominally “starting” this game, but it’s a bullpen game. And while I don’t think he’ll be used like an opener, he’s definitely not expected to go 5+ innings. If he does, it’d just be gravy. No, this is a “bullpen” game through and through, which means we might even see Kyle Hendricks at some point. We’ll see. In the meantime, Brown has made three relief appearances since his last start (vs Mets), for a combined line of 7.2 IP, 7H, 1ER, 2BB, 12K. And that includes 2.0 innings against the Braves. He’s been very good. Let’s hope he keeps it up today, because the Cubs lineup has been … not great.
Atlanta Braves: AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP
Smith-Shawver is the Braves No. 1 prospect and the No. 58 prospect in baseball overall. The 21-year-old righty was a seventh round pick in the 2021 draft and first debuted for the Braves last season, though the numbers weren’t overly impressive: 6 games, 5 starts, 25.1 IP with a 4.26 ERA (19.0K%, 10.5 BB%). Smith-Shawver returned to Triple-A to start this season, where he’s collected a 6.10 ERA over eight starts, including 11 earned runs in his last 13.1 IP against the White Sox (twice) and Cardinals minor leaguers. It would be really swell if the Cubs lineup could do at least as well against him.
Smith-Shaver pairs a mid-90s fastball with a gyro slider (best secondary offering), a changeup (also a put-out pitch), and a curveball.
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs (27-23) vs Atlanta Braves (28-18) at 1:20 pm CT – Marquee Sports Network, 670 The Score
CHICAGO CUBS: Drew Smyly, Jordan Wicks, Daniel Palencia, Yency Almonte, Colten Brewer, Adbert Alzolay, Keegan Thompson, Caleb Kilian, Julian Merryweather
ATLANTA BRAVES: Sean Murphy, Spencer Strider, Tyler Matzek, Angel Perdomo
