CUBS LINEUP — Tonight on “Can the Cubs Score More Than One Run?” we check in on a struggling midwestern baseball team that’s been endeavoring to win some games in a little-known organization called MLB. Their attempts of late have been fraught, but bless their souls, they’ll try again tonight.
Here’s a look at their lineup against Kevin Gausman and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Michael Busch, 1B
- Seiya Suzuki, DH
- Kyle Tucker, RF
- Ian Happ, LF
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Matt Shaw, 3B
- Miguel Amaya, C
Yesterday, Javier Assad made his return to the Chicago Cubs, and tonight, it’s Miguel Amaya’s turn.
If it feels like forever ago, it’s because it was (Amaya has just 100 PAs to his name this season), but the Cubs young catcher was smacking the ball to start the season: .280/.313/.505 (126 wRC+) through May 24. And boy, could the Cubs lineup use some of that production/luck right about now.
Predictably, Amaya is batting ninth, as he looks to get his legs back under him, but I’m happy to have him back nonetheless.
With Amaya in the lineup, Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire are both on the bench. Meanwhile, Matt Shaw moves up to eighth.
With Kelly out, Ian Happ is hitting cleanup, ahead of Pete Crow-Armstrong, with Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson batting sixth and seventh.
Toronto Blue Jays Lineup:
- Nathan Lukes, RF
- Bo Bichette, SS
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
- Addison Barger, DH
- Alejandro Kirk, C
- Daulton Varsho, CF
- Joey Loperfido, LF
- Ernie Clement, 3B
- Andres Gimenez, 2B
Pitching Matchup:
Chicago Cubs: Cade Horton, RHP
Cubs rookie right-hander Cade Horton is on a pretty remakable run of late, with four straight scoreless outings of at least 5.0 innings. During this stretch, he’s struck out 16 batters, walked 7, and has limited his hard-contact to just 36.2%).
But he’s got quite a challenge tonight.
As we discussed yesterday before Javier Assad’s start, the Blue Jays’ offense has been lethal this season, and especially over the last few weeks. They also excel at home (where this game will be played) and against right-handed pitchers (like Cade Horton). So I guess I’m saying I won’t be too dissapointed, or at least surprised, if his scoreless streak comes to an end tonight.
In any case, Horton has now made 15 starts with a 3.18 ERA, which is a really fantastic rookie season. Whatever happens tonight shouldn’t change that.
Toronto Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman, RHP
Two starts ago, Kevin Gausman was lit up by the Royals, who scored five runs in 6.0 innings on six hits including two homers. But that was a bit of an outlier for Gausman.
In the month that led up to that start, Gausman allowed just 8 ER over 36.2 IP (1.96 ERA) with 38 strikeouts and just a 6.1% barrel rate. And in his most recent outing, he held the Rockies to just one earned run over 7.0 innings of work with 8Ks and 2BBs (though everyone seems to dominant the Rockies this year …).
I guess the point here is that although he has had the occasional blowout (5 or more earned runs allowed four times this season), he’s mostly been lights out this year.
Also worth noting that both this season and for his career, Gausman has carried reverse splits, meaning he’s been tougher on lefties … like PCA, Kyle Tucker, and Michael Busch (i.e. three of the Cubs players struggling the most right now).
Some (small-sample) Matchup History:
- Reese McGuire: 4-11, 2B, BB, 2K
- Kyle Tucker: 4-9, 2 2Bs, 2 BBs, K
- Justin Turner: 8-24, 2 2Bs, 2 HR, 3BB, 5K
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs (67-51) vs Toronto Blue Jays (70-50) at 6:07 pm CT – MARQ, 670 The Score
Cubs vs Blue Jays – Key Injuries:
- Jameson Taillon, SP
- Michael Soroka, SP
- Eli Morgan, RP
- Justin Steele, SP
- George Springer, OF
- Andres Gimenez, 2B
- Yimi Garcia, RP
- Shane Bieber, SP
- Angel Bastardo, SP
- Alex Manoah, SP
- Anthony Santander, OF
- Bowden Francis, SP
- Ryan Burr, RP
Cubs vs Blue Jays – Rogers Centre Weather Report
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Temperature: 84 degrees
Wind: Dome
