NEWSLETTER
CUBS LINEUP — Before today’s finale, the Chicago Cubs have won three of four Rubber Matches this season: Dodgers (win), Padres (loss), Mariners (win), and Diamondbacks (win). Let’s see if they can make it four out of five.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Mike Tauchman, RF
- Ian Happ, LF
- Chris Morel, 3B
- Michael Busch, 1B
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Matt Mervis, DH
- Miguel Amaya, C
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
Craig Counsell is rolling with the exact same Cubs lineup (minus the catcher) for the third day in a row. It worked well enough in Game 1 (14H, 1BB, 7 runs), but they fell quiet yesterday (5H, 2BB, 0 runs). So here’s hoping for a little more luck.
The good news here, though, is that Christopher Morel is right back out there after colliding with Alexander Canario in yesterday’s blowout. Morel said he was fine after the game, but he was removed early, which always makes you nervous, even in a blowout. Or maybe I’m just used to everyone on the Cubs getting hurt.
Anyway, Jordan Wicks was supposed to make the start tonight, but he just hit the injured list. So it’ll be Hayden Wesneski instead. That and three other roster moves discussed right here.
Boston Red Sox Lineup:
- Jarren Duran, CF
- Rafael Devers, 3B
- Tyler O’Neill, LF
- Wilyer Abreu, RF
- Connor Wong, C
- Masatka Yoshida, DH
- Enmanuel Valdez, 2B
- Bobby Dalbec, 1B
- Ceddanne Rafaela, SS
Pitching Matchup:
Chicago Cubs: Hayden Wesneski, RHP
Later tonight, Hayden Wesneski is stepping in for Jordan Wicks, who is dealing with some forearm tightness. And while Wesneski has been pitching well, he just tossed 2.1 innings of relief on the 25th. So this is not exactly ideal timing/rest for him between appearances (at least not if you wanted an especially long start). And of course, he also doesn’t have the luxury of any of the Cubs long-men to back him up, as Javier Assad and Ben Brown are both in the rotation and Drew Smyly is out injured.
At least the Cubs used only Luke Little and Colten Brewer yesterday (with Matt Mervis and Patrick Wisdom finishing the game up on the mound). Good luck, Wesneski. Tough assignment. Maybe the Cubs lineup can do him a favor and spot him 17 runs like the Red Sox did yesterday.
Boston Red Sox: Tanner Houck, RHP
Tanner Houck has been scary good this season. Two games ago, he tossed a complete game shutout against the Guardians, with just three hits, no walks, and nine strikeouts. And over 32.2 IP, he’s rocking a 24.6% strikeout rate, 3.8% walk rate, .220 AVG against, and a 1.65 ERA. On paper, with so many Cubs out injured and a fill-in starter on the mound, this is not a good matchup for the Cubs.
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs (17-10) at Boston Red Sox (15-13) at 6:10 pm CT – ESPN, 670 The Score
