Chicago Cubs Lineup (7/7/24): Series Win Still Possible
Despite face-planting into ineptitude once more on Saturday, the Cubs can still come out of the weekend with a series win if they can take care of business in this one. They’re going to need a better effort from either Hayden Wesneski or the offense to get it done, though. Wesneski has given up 10 homers in 50 innings this year, with eight of those coming in his last 16.1 innings.
He’s also given up two homers in each of his last two starts, which isn’t ideal when the Cubs aren’t known for being able to come back from deficits. Maybe they’ll get things turned around against José Soriano, who is a much better pitcher on paper than yesterday’s opponent. Angels starter Tyler Anderson went into Saturday with the lowest strikeout rate and highest walk rate in MLB among qualified pitchers and proceeded to strike out 10 Cubs with no walks over eight innings.
Soriano has a turbo sinker that sits 98 mph, setting it off with a very firm 86 mph knuckle curve and a four-seam that will hit triple-digits. His splitter and slider will get some action as well, but neither stands out. Can this lineup do enough damage this afternoon to make the weekend a mild success?
Nico Hoerner leads off at second, then it’s Michael Busch at first and Cody Bellinger in center. Seiya Suzuki is in right, Ian Happ is in left, Christopher Morel is the DH, and Dansby Swanson is at short. Miles Mastrobuoni is the third baseman and Miguel Amaya is catching even though Craig Counsell said the backstop would be getting an extended break to work on his hitting.
First pitch is at 1:20pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score.
Here is today’s #Cubs starting lineup at Wrigley Field.
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— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 7, 2024