Forget the past in the past, tonight is a new opportunity. Here’s how David Ross will make his Cubs in line with Kyle Hendricks on the mound.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
1. Ian Happ, CF.
2. Anthony Rizzo, 2B
Javy Baez, SS
4. Kyle Schwarber, LF
5. Willson Contreras, C
6. Jason Heyward, RF
7. Victor Caratini, DH
8. Jason Kipnis, 2B
9. David Bote, 3B
There are basically no surprises in this lineup – minus the fact that Kris Bryant is STILL out with a wrist injury – as Ross leans on his regulars for Game 2 against Reynaldo Lopez and the Sox.
Kris Bryant is back in the lineup today. Has not played since Monday, is also not on the IL.
– Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) August 22, 2020
And if there are not many decisions about the lineup to discuss, I usually look at the split of the opposite pitcher … unfortunately there is actually nothing:
LHH: 232.2 IP, .333 wOBA
RHH: 232.1 IP, .327 wOBA
Lopez, 26, has an almost identical number of tackles against both lefties and righties and an almost identical level of production could go both ways. And I think that works for the Cubs, who have four lefties, three righties, and two switch-hitters last night in the lineup.
However, I will point out that Lopez has been activated from the list of injured and has not been notified since he was removed from the first inning of his first start of the year. And with that in mind, the Cubs may soon get an extended look at left-back Gio Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, you might remember, frustrated the hell out of the Cubs last season with the Brewers (1.48 ERA over 24.1 IP), and given the Cubs problems against lefties this year, I do not understand it to see him.
As usual, we will have your full Pre-Gamin ‘post closer to game time (7:15 CT).
