CUBS LINEUP — I’m going to need Kyle Hendricks to throw a complete game tonight. And surely someone in the Cubs lineup could try hitting a home run.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Michael Busch, 1B
- Cody Bellinger, RF
- Seiya Suzuki, DH
- Ian Happ, LF
- Chris Morel, 3B
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
- Miguel Amaya, C
This is the correct version of the Cubs lineup in San Francisco with the currently available personnel. I especially like Cody Bellinger in right field for his defense (Suzuki has looked rough out there at times this year), ditto PCA in center. I like Michael Busch batting second. And well, that’s about it. I still think Ian Happ should be leading off, but Nico Hoerner did have a nice game last night. Dansby Swanson is also heating up.
A similar group got plenty of traffic last night, but let’s hope they’re better able to cash in this time.
San Francisco Giants Lineup:
- Brett Wisely, SS
- Heliot Ramos, CF
- Patrick Bailey, C
- Jorge Soler, DH
- Matt Chapman, 3B
- Michael Conforto, LF
- Thairo Estrada, 2B
- David Villar, 1B
- Luis Matos, RF
Pitching Matchup:
Chicago Cubs: Kyle Hendricks, RHP
Two appearances ago, Kyle Hendricks came in to relieve Jordan Wicks, who left his start early with an oblique injury. And to pretty much everyone’s surprise, Hendricks was pretty darn good! With no notice, Hendricks delivered his strongest 4.1 innings of the season, allowing no runs to score on just two hits and no walks.
Then, in his first start back in the rotation, Hendricks was even sharper, allowing just one earned run over 5.2 IP against these very Giants on just two hits and one walk against EIGHT strikeouts. He started to lose gas and get hit harder near the end, but it was BY FAR his best start of the year. Longest, too. Remember, though: It’s never easy to face the same lineup twice in short order, and that’s what Hendricks will have to do tonight.
San Francisco Giants: Randy Rodriguez, RHP
A 24-year-old rookie with a 4.82 ERA? Cubs are toast.
I’m only slightly kidding. Rodriguez is starting tonight, but he seems to be another opener for the Giants, who had a bullpen game yesterday. So I’m not sure exactly how many innings he’ll throw. Now, however, that he has gone 2-3 innings multiple times this year. So probably not just a one-shot guy tonight.
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs (37-44) vs San Francisco Giants (37-42) at 8:45 pm CT – Marquee Sports Network, MLBN, 670 The Score