CUBS LINEUP — Tonight’s Cubs game starts after the kids go to bed (9:15pm CT), which isn’t exactly my favorite start time … and will be broadcast on AppleTV+. So while it is an exciting matchup against the Dodgers, with the Cubs 9-game winning streak on the line, I have to imagine this will be one of the lower-viewed games of the season among Cubs fans. Here’s hoping those of you who skip this one have something nice to wake up to in the morning. Or at least no more bullpen injuries.
Here’s a look at the Cubs lineup for the first of three games against the Dodgers in L.A.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
Nico Hoerner, 1B Michael Busch, 1B Alex Bregman, 3B Ian Happ, LF Seiya Suzuki, RF Moisés Ballesteros, DH Carson Kelly, C Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF Dansby Swanson, SSYou know, I’d like to believe Michael Busch has played his way back up to the two-spot in the Cubs lineup, but doesn’t this feel a tad premature? The results have started to turn, yes – he’s got five hits over the last four games, including two homers – but the peripherals are still pretty weak.
Even starting from a good, longer point in his upswing (April 12 through last night), Busch’s .365 wOBA is not supported by the peripherals (.323 xwOBA). And normally I wouldn’t even mention something like that over a sample that small, but I mean this is the BEST stretch of his season – by far – and it comes with a 79.6 MPH average exit velocity. That is lower than low. Just for a little reference, the lowest single-season exit velocity in baseball is Billy Hamilton (80.5 MPH).
The flip side is that tonight’s Dodgers’ starter, Emmet Sheehan, is a traditional split righty. But it just feels like the Cubs have not one (Ian Happ), but two (Moises Ballesteros) hotter hitting lefties you’d want higher up in the lineup right now.
But now I feel like I’m almost making a point I don’t entirely believe in. I am still a STRONG believer that, by the end of the year, Michael Busch will be one of the Cubs’ top hitters. It just feels like we’re snapping back quickly from him moving down in the lineup to get right just because he’s been floated by a .357 BABIP and a couple of dingers.
Anyway, now that I’ve typed that all out, Michael Busch is virtually guaranteed to homer for the third consecutive game. In fact, I might put some money on it just to cover myself.
Other than that, Carson Kelly is behind the plate, PCA is batting eighth, and Dansby Swanson will look to continue his absurd walk pace to help turn the lineup over.
Los Angeles Dodgers Lineup:
Shohei Ohtani, DH Freddie Freeman, 1B Will Smith, C Kyle Tucker, RF Teoscar Hernandez, LF Max Muncy, 3B Andy Pages, CF Hye-Seong Kim, SS Alex Freeland, 2BPitching Matchup:
Chicago Cubs: Jameson Taillon, RHP
Two starts back, Jameson Taillon gave up six earned runs to the Pirates, but it was actually not a horrible start. For one, the runs came early, but Taillon stayed in to complete 6.0 innings. And his mid-game turn around gave the Cubs enough time to come back and win. So that was actually pretty solid. Oh, he also struck out 10(!) batters in that game. So it wasn’t all bad. It was just a crazy windy day at Wrigley, and he gave up three bombs.
After that, he was even better in a start against the Mets at Wrigley Field, featuring another 6.0 innings of work (his third straight of at least 6.0 IP), but this time with just one earned run on 5 hits and 3 walks against four strikeouts.
So on the whole, his full-season numbers are right where they need to be: 3.97 ERA, 22.2 IP. Three straight long outings.
Pitching against the Dodgers in Los Angeles isn’t anybody’s idea of a good time. And there’s precious little bullpen help behind him, but he will try nonetheless. No matter what, he’s going to need the Cubs lineup to provide some serious run support.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Emmet Sheehan, RHP
Emmet Sheehan had some success swinging in and out of the Dodgers bullpen last season, but it hasn’t quite carried over this year. He does have one quality start against the Rangers on his ledger, but his other three games were pretty brutal. And overall, he’s got a 5.85 ERA with just a 20.9% strikeout rate.
Also of note, for his career, lefties have hit Sheehan a lot better than righties:
vsLHH: .327 wOBAvsRHH: .255 wOBA
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs (16-9) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (17-8) at 9:15 CT – AppleTV+, 104.3 The Score
Cubs vs Dodgers – Key Injuries:
Chicago Cubs:
Hunter Harvey, RP Porter Hodge, RP Phil Maton, RP Daniel Palencia, RP Ethan Roberts, RP Jordan Wicks, SP Tyler Austin, IF/OF (60-Day IL) Cade Horton, SP (60-Day IL) Shelby Miller, RP (60-Day IL) Justin Steele, SP (60-Day IL) … and probably Caleb Thielbar, RP (TBD)Los Angeles Dodgers:
Tommy Edman, IF/OF Mookie Betts, SS Brusdar Graterol, RP Brock Stewart, RP Blake Snell, SP Landon Knack, SP Ben Casparius, RP Edwin Diaz, RP Evan Phillips, RP Jake Cousins, RP Enrique Hernadez, IF/OF Bobby Miller, RP Gavin Stone, SPCubs vs Dodgers – Dodger Stadium Weather Report
Location: Los Angeles, CATemperature: 67 degreesWind: Blowing out, weak
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