CUBS LINEUP — This afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Cubs will have their second chance to win a series. They couldn’t come through in their first try over the weekend, and it would absolutely be disappointing to drop back-to-back home series against two weak teams like the Angels and Nats.
So … let’s hope Matthew Boyd and the following Cubs lineup has a little bit more luck in today’s series finale.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
Nico Hoerner, 2B Alex Bregman, 3B Ian Happ, LF Carson Kelly, C Michael Busch, 1B Dansby Swanson, SS Matt Shaw, RF Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF Miguel Amaya, DHThis is the first “versus lefties” lineup of the year for the Cubs, and for good reason. Check out the lefty/righty splits for Yusei Kikuchi’s career:
LHH: .222/.282/.369 (.284 wOBA) RHH: .268/.335/.464 (.343 wOBA)That is a *significant* gap, which is exactly why we see Nico Hoerner leading off (as I suspect he will against all lefties this season), as well as Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong moving way down.
In the absence of Seiya Suzuki, Matt Shaw is also the obvious choice for right field against a lefty, but this is when you really start missing Seiya. Because with Ballesteros on the bench against a lefty and Carson Kelly behind the plate, the Cubs are forced to start Miguel Amaya at DH. And while I love Amaya’s bat against righties and just in general long-term, he actually has struggled against lefties throughout his career (181 PAs): .190/.253/.295 (54 wRC+).
That doesn’t mean he can’t succeed today against a lefty who has struggled against righties, but this is all well beyond the broader point: I want Seiya Suzuki back.
To that end, in case you missed it, details on Suzuki’s rehab assignment just dropped this morning.
Los Angeles Angels Lineup:
Zach Neto, SS Mike Trout, CF Jo Adell, RF Jorge Soler, DH Yoan Moncada, 3B Oswald Peraza, 2B Jeimer Candelario, 1B Travis d’Arnaud, C Bryce Teodosio, LFPitching Matchup:
Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd, LHP
Matthew Boyd’s first start of the season, Opening Day, did not go well. The veteran Cubs’ lefty was ultimately chased from the game in the fourth inning with a staggering six earned runs to his name when it finally came to an end. And given our concerns about his age, his downtrend at the end of last season, and his mediocre spring, that definitely raises some concerns for the rest of this season. But I’m not actually anywhere near panic yet.
Outside of the fact that it was just one day/one game (and, thus, freaking out would be absurd), Boyd did have a nice first three innings against the Nats, with just one hit (a solo homer) to go along with 7 strikeouts and two flyouts.
It’s just that the flood gates really opened up in the fourth, with tons and tons of hits and hard contact: double, single, single, walk, single, RBI groundout, single … removed from the game. Ouch. The Nationals are also not a particularly impressive team, which is what made this sting even more.
But I think Boyd has earned more than one start before we freak out. So let’s see how today goes. It’s another very cold one at Wrigley Field, with the wind howling in from center. Maybe not ideal conditions to pitch (tough to stay warm), but they’re far worse for the hitters. So the advantage leans Boyd, for sure.
Los Angeles Angels: Yusei Kikuchi, LHP
Yusei Kikuchi has already made one start this season, but unlike his teammate (and last night’s starter) Jose Soriano, it wasn’t quite so dominant. Sure, he allowed the Astros to score only two runs, but that came on eight hits (including a homer) and a walk over just 4.1 IP. Plus, only three strikeouts.
But generally speaking, that’s a good bit worse than Kikuchi has historically performed. Indeed, over the last three seasons, he’s been pretty darn consistent, making at least 32 starts per year with an ERA ranging from a low of 3.86 to a high of 4.05. That’s just solid work.
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs (2-3) vs Los Angeles Angels (3-3) at 1:20 pm CT – Marquee Sports Network, 104.3 The Score
Cubs vs Angels – Key Injuries:
Chicago Cubs:
Seiya Suzuki, OF Jordan Wicks, SP Porter Hodge, RP Justin Steele, SP (60-Day IL) Shelby Miller, RP (60-Day IL) Tyler Austin, IF/OF (60-Day IL)Los Angeles Angels:
Vaughn Grissom, IF Ben Joyce, RP Grayson Rodriguez, SP Kirby Yates, RP Alex Manoah, SP Anthony Rendon, 3B Robert Stephenson, RPCubs vs Angels – Wrigley Field Weather Report
Location: Chicago, ILTemperature: 40 degreesWind: Blowing in from center, very strong with maximum gusts
Today vs Angels: 40° ☁️ Wind blowing in from CF at 18mph? Gusts up to 27mph #Cubs #Weather
— Wrigley Winds (@WrigleyWinds) April 1, 2026Hence then, the article about chicago cubs lineup nico hoerner leads off busch and pca move down was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner Leads Off, Busch and PCA Move Down )
Also on site :