Chicago Cubs Lineup

Chicago Cubs Lineup (9/6/24): Anthony Rizzo Returns to Wrigley

Photo of Evan Altman Evan AltmanSeptember 6, 2024

Let’s be honest, Anthony Rizzo‘s return to Wrigley for the first time since July of 2021 is a far more compelling story than Craig Counsell‘s batting order. The Cubs’ former de facto captain is a shadow of his former self from a production standpoint, but that doesn’t matter in the slightest to the fans. Rizzo is going to get the kind of standing ovation typically reserved for films at Cannes when the audience is at epic levels of pandering. My assumption is that they’ll have to pause the game each time he comes to the plate.

The only time I’ve seen that previously was during David Ross‘s final home game as a player in 2016, which was a pretty cool deal. Rizzo is clearly on a very different level, however, and this series will be steeped in nostalgia and laced with more than a twinge of sympathy. The man who was traded away three years ago was pretty clearly on the back side of his career, but he was still very productive.

There were questions about whether he’d be in the lineup at all, though Aaron Boone would have been flogged with a wet noodle had failed to facilitate an active reunion. The returning hero will bat seventh and play first base. Rizzo almost certainly won’t have his club option picked up for next year and probably won’t be able to land a big-league deal in free agency, so this may well be the last time Cubs fans get to see him play. I’m sure he’ll be back with the club in some capacity moving forward, even if it’s just as a CubsCon attendee.

As for the game itself, Jordan Wicks is getting his second start since being activated from the IL and he’s facing a team with just a little more firepower than the Nationals. The lefty got away with a little more than he should have last week, picking up the win despite getting no strikeouts. The flip side is that he generated a lot of grounders and didn’t walk anyone.

The Yankees counter with Luis Gil, a 26-year-old righty with a big fastball, nasty slider, and very firm changeup. The 97 mph heater sets up an 88 mph slider that stays up in the zone and often lands glove-side middle rather than down. The changeup sits around 92 mph and stays arm side with downward movement that can’t really be called tumble because it’s thrown too hard for such an adjective.

Those pitches lead to big strikeout and walk numbers, but he hasn’t been stung too much by the free passes because his stuff is so difficult to barrel up. Gil is coming off of two poor outings, which is either good or bad for the Cubs depending on how he adjusts. His last start saw him walk six batters with three strikeouts over just three innings, and he took a loss against the White Sox just before that.

This one is all about being patient, as Gil is going to miss with plenty of his offerings this afternoon. At the same time, the Cubs can’t just be passive and allow him to find a groove. Here’s to hoping we get plenty of warm fuzzies from all the Rizzo tributes and that the home team blows the doors off the Yanks.

First pitch is at 1:20pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score. Oh, this weekend also marks the induction of Kerry Wood and Aramis Ramirez into the Cubs Hall of Fame.

Photo of Evan Altman Evan AltmanSeptember 6, 2024
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