
Chicago Cubs Lineup (9/9/24): Swanson Batting Second, Busch Sixth, Hendricks Facing Dodgers
The Cubs scored two runs in three games against the Yankees and now play three late contests in Chavez Ravine against an even better team. It’s not very fun to go from facing Juan Soto and Aaron Judge at the top of the lineup to Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman. Too bad the Cubs couldn’t bring Anthony Rizzo with them to pitch to ol’ Frederick. That would at least provide the benefit of a little wackiness even if the results weren’t great.
Of course, the Cubs have managed all season to show they’ve still got a heartbeat just when we thought they’d flatlined. There would be no better way to do that than for Kyle Hendricks to shove like an earlier version of himself against the NL’s most feared lineup. Do I think that’ll happen? No, but a boy can dream.
Far more worrisome is an offense that has been shut out three times in the last five games, and it’s not like they’re loading the bases two or three times a game and just getting unlucky. The Cubs have played these last few games like gluttonous trick-or-treaters who ate all their candy on Halloween night and are left with a bellyache and no goodies.
This lineup represents a small change from the norm, with Dansby Swanson and Michael Busch swapping spots in the order. Ian Happ leads off in left, Swanson is at short, Seiya Suzuki is the DH, and Cody Bellinger is in right. Isaac Paredes plays third, Busch is across the diamond, and Nico Hoerner handles second base. Pete Crow-Armstrong patrols center and Miguel Amaya is behind the dish.
Facing Walker Buehler would have been cause for concern in the past, but, like Hendricks, he’s not the same pitcher he once was. A series of injuries have limited his career, causing him to miss all of last season along with big chunks of this one and the ’22 campaign. He pitched to a 2.47 ERA over 207.2 innings in ’21 to finish fourth in the Cy Young voting, but he’s at a 5.67 mark in 12 starts this season.
Buehler has only managed 54 innings, which again conjures images of Hendricks frequently making shorter starts. His velocity is still just above 95 mph, right in line with his last two seasons, but he leaves his heater right in the heart of the zone. His cutter has been really good and his sinker is okay, but the curve, sweeper, and change, have all generated negative value.
His career splits are nearly identical, but left-handed batters are finding more success than their right-handed counterparts this season. The gap isn’t big and all hitters’ numbers are grossly inflated over what Buehler has allowed in the past, especially when it comes to slugging. This is a game in which the Cubs should be able to get theirs, but don’t discount Buehler’s ability to dial in and shut them down.
First pitch is at 9:10pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score, so good luck staying up to watch or listen.
Gameday in LA!
Tune in: https://t.co/Gs2hZXyTjH pic.twitter.com/22O3Nc9Et1
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 9, 2024