CUBS LINEUP — Here we are, hoping the Chicago Cubs can win today to avoid being swept by the Pirates at home during a series in which they did not have to face Paul Skenes. That’s a pretty brutal outcome, even if the Cubs find a way to get the job done.
And to be sure, that’s no lock. Jameson Taillon has had a nice-ish start to the year, with the velocity ticking back up in his last outing, in particular, but the wind is HOWLING out today. Like, to the extreme. And that won’t necessarily bode well for a guy rocking a 54.5% fly ball rate this season …
Jameson Taillon has a 54.5% fly ball rate so far this season. League average is 38.4%. The wind is gonna be an issue today. t.co/mSwUVVvn1w
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) April 12, 2026But, hey, maybe the warm weather and howling wind will help the Cubs offense finally get going. Here’s a look at the Cubs lineup for the finale at Wrigley Field.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
Nico Hoerner, 2B Moises Ballesters, DH Alex Bregman, 3B Ian Happ, LF Seiya Suzuki, RF Carson Kelly, C Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF Dansby Swanson, SS Matt Shaw, 1BIn case you haven’t noticed (you have), Michael Busch has gotten off to a pretty rough start this season. Indeed, he hasn’t recorded so much as a walk since April 6 and a hit since April 1. Thus, he is out of the Cubs lineup this afternoon for a much-needed mental reset.
In his place, Matt Shaw is covering first base (see, I told you he’d get his starts).
With Busch on the bench, Craig Counsell is elevating Moises Ballesteros all the way up to second in the batting order, which is quite a recognition not only of his raw talent, but the actual way he’s been hitting the ball so far this season: 92.6 MPH average exit velo, 13.6 launch angle, 16.7 barrel rate, 54.2 hard%.
Ballesteros is a few lucky breaks away from taking off at the plate. Mark my words.
With Ballesteros batting second, the Cubs preserve the lefty/righty balance at the top, and everyone else stays in their usual spots.
Pittsburgh Pirates Lineup:
TBAPitching Matchup:
Chicago Cubs: Jameson Taillon, RHP
Jameson Taillon’s first start of the season, while scoreless, wasn’t without warts. Namely, his fastball velocity was still down at just 90.8 MPH (he even threw a few under 90…). And that’s why I was excited to see it tick up a bit in his second start (91.5 MPH), including some 93 MPH heaters in his final inning of work.
Not only that, but his second start was of the quality variety, with 6.0 innings and 3 earned runs against the Rays in Tampa Bay. He did give up a couple of homers, though, and has allowed WAY too many fly balls, which could be a problem today with the wind.
So I guess this is your reminder that even if he has a bad day today, the conditions are pretty brutal for the pitchers. And seeing as the Cubs are currently without Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd, Jamo is, well, we need him to be in the rotation.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Bubba Chandler, RHP
On the one hand, Bubba Chandler has struck out an impressive 10 batters through his first 8.2 innings of work, while allowing only three earned runs.
On the other hand, Bubba Chandler has walked a ridiculous 10 batters through his first 8.2 innings of work, while giving up a ton of hard contact and getting barely any groundballs.
He’s not usually a big fly ball pitcher, but he has been so far this season. So, again with the wind, let’s hope that’s the case today, too.
For his (limited) career, Chandler is carrying reverse splits (righties hit him better than lefties).
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs(6-8) vs Pittsburgh Pirates (9-5) at 1:20 CT – Marquee Sports Network, 104.3 The Score
Cubs vs Pirates – Key Injuries:
Chicago Cubs:
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) Cade Horton, SP Matthew Boyd, SPPittsburgh Pirates:
Jared Triolo, INF Jared Jones, SPCubs vs Pirates – Wrigley Field Weather Report
Location: Wrigley FieldTemperature: 75 degreesWind: Blowing out, strong to INSANELY strong
Today vs Pirates: 75° ? Wind blowing out to CF / LF at 18mph? Gusts up to 34mph #Cubs #Weather
— Wrigley Winds (@WrigleyWinds) April 12, 2026Hence then, the article about chicago cubs lineup a day off for busch ballesteros moves way up 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.
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