CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs are rolling right now, riding a six-game winning streak into tonight’s matchup against Jesus Luzardo and the Philadelphia Phillies. Seeing as the Cubs destroyed Luzardo last week – and the fact that Imanaga is on a roll – this feels like a very winnable game. But baseball has a way of pulling the rug out when you expect too much.
In any case, here’s a look at the Cubs lineup against a guy on whom they plated nine runs just six days ago.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
Nico Hoerner, 2B Alex Bregman, DH Ian Happ, LF Seiya Suzuki, RF Carson Kelly, C Michael Busch, 1B Dansby Swanson, SS Matt Shaw, 3B Pete Crow-Armstrong, CFThe Chicago Cubs lineup looks a little different tonight, but that’s mostly circumstantial, I’d wager. In other words, despite his struggles, Michael Busch probably isn’t moving down to sixth on a normal day against a righty. No, I have to think this is just a tonight thing, with Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki both moving up in the lineup.
Speaking of which, Happ hasn’t actually been all that great against lefties, himself, this season, though it’s still above average overall (104 wRC+). And as we’ve seen, he’s really been hitting the ball well over the past two weeks.
Elsewhere, it’s a half-night off Alex Bregman, who gets parked at DH with Matt Shaw coming in to face the lefty and play third.
Likewise, Dansby Swanson, who’s been heating up, moves up to seventh tonight, and Pete Crow-Armstrong, who’s struggled all around, but especially versus left-handed pitching, bats ninth.
That leaves the bench with Michael Conforto, Miguel Amaya, Scott Kingery, and Moises Ballesteros.
Philadelphia Phillies Lineup:
Trea Turner, SS Kyle Schwarber, DH Bryce Harper, 1B Franmil Reyes, LF Adolis Garcia, RF JT Realmuto, C Alec Bohm, 3B Brandon Marsh, CF Edmundo Sosa, 2BPitching Matchup:
Chicago Cubs: Shota Imanaga, LHP
Shota Imanaga’s last twelve innings are LOL-worthy: 12.0 IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 20Ks. That’s just an incredible stretch for a guy whose importance has ROCKETED up since the start of the season due to injuries elsewhere on the roster.
The good news there, as we’ve discussed, is that Imanaga isn’t just getting better results, he’s also throwing the ball better than he … pretty much ever has in a Cubs uniform, including his brilliant 2024 campaign. And although he did just face the Phillies last week, that’s a team that struggles quite a bit against left-handed pitching. So he should be in a good spot to find some success again tonight.
It also doesn’t hurt that the wind isn’t expected to be howling out this evening at Wrigley Field. Though you never know, in this city. Could change any second.
In any case, let’s keep an eye on Imanaga’s velocity tonight. It has been up considerably over last year, and that seems to be making all the difference for him through his first four starts.
Philadelphia Phillies: Jesus Luzardo, LHP
Listen, Jesus Luzardo *is* a good pitcher. And he’s coming off a fantastic first season with the Phillies in 2025. But so far, in 2026, it has been a bit of a disaster. Through four starts, he has three absolute clunkers plus one great outing … against the Rockies.
vsTEX: 6.0 IP, 6H, 6ER, BB, 7K @COL: 6.2 IP, 5H, 1ER, 0BB, 11K vsARI: 4.2 IP, 5H, 5ER, 3BB, 8K vsCHC: 5.1 IP, 12H, 9R, 8ER, 1BB, 4KAnd while the Phillies undoubtedly left Luzardo out there to mop up his own mess, they still clearly got to him early and often.
Nico Hoerner had a particularly big game that night, including three hits and a homer. Ditto Dansby Swanson. But Matt Shaw also hit three doubles, PCA had a couple of hits, and Seiya Suzuki reached base safely three times.
Speaking of PCA, both of his two hits that game came of the left-handed Luzardo. Let’s hope we see some more of that tonight, because while he needs to get better against righties too, lefties are the bigger issue for him at the moment.
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs (13-9) vs Philadelphia Phillies (8-14) at 6:40 CT – Marquee Sports Network, 104.3 The Score
Cubs vs Phillies – Key Injuries:
Chicago Cubs:
Matthew Boyd, SP (returning this week) 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)Philadelphia Phillies
Zack Wheeler, SP Max Lazar, RP Zach Pop, RP Jonathan Bowlan, RP Jhoan Duran, RPCubs vs Phillies – Wrigley Field Weather Report
Location: Chicago, ILTemperature: 67 degreesWind: Blowing out to center, weak with moderate gusts
Tonight vs Phillies: 67° ?️ Wind blowing out to CF at 7mph? Gusts up to 15mph #Cubs #Weather
— Wrigley Winds (@WrigleyWinds) April 21, 2026Hence then, the article about chicago cubs lineup ian happ batting third michael busch moves 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.
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