Chicago Cubs Lineup (8/13/25): Busch Lead Off, Happ Cleanup, Amaya Catching, Horton Starting
I’ll be honest with you right off the jump: I’m in no mood to preview this game given the way the Cubs have been playing. That won’t stop me from offering a little analysis, but it’s just so tiresome to watch them sit on their balls night after night. Starting pitching is the only thing preventing a full-on freefall, and even that is in serious danger of trending downward given the nature of the staff.
Cade Horton has been a big part of the league-best rotation since July 1, but he’s also established a new career high for innings pitched in any season of his life and we’ve got almost two months left. He hasn’t allowed a run in over a month, a stretch of four-plus starts and just over 23 innings. That can’t last, so the offense needs to get its head out of its backside.
Michael Busch has been the Cubs’ worst everday hitter since the break, but he’s still in the leadoff spot with a righty on the mound. This particular matchup says that’s a bad idea, but we’ll see. Seiya Suzuki bats second as the DH, Kyle Tucker is in right, Ian Happ is in left, and Pete Crow-Armstrong is in center. Nico Hoerner bats sixth at second base, Dansby Swanson plays short, Matt Shaw is at third, and Miguel Amaya gets the nod behind the plate.
They’re facing Kevin Gausman, a perennial Cy Young contender for his last two seasons in San Francisco and first in Toronto. Those days may be gone at this point, but he’s still an excellent pitcher with a ride-run fastball and wicked splitter that help him keep opponents at bay. Gausman gives up a lot of hard contact in the air, though, so his mistakes can lead to big outbursts.
His four-seam makes up about 54% of his pitches and the splitter accounts for nearly 38%, with both seeing nearly equal usage to righties and lefties alike. That’s very rare, particularly for offspeed stuff, but having that kind of weapon allows Gausman to neutralize lefties. His career splits have always been somewhat pronounced, and they’re even more so this season. Lefty batters are slashing just .177/.242/.333 against him so far, though they tend to hit him a little better in Toronto.
That doesn’t bode well for the Cubs given how poorly their big left-handed bats have been hitting, especially when four of their top five batters tonight will hit from the left side. After seeing several other matchups that looked much better for them on paper, maybe this one looking like it favors the Blue Jays will work out better for the North Siders.
First pitch is at 6:07pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score.
Night two vs. the Blue Jays.
Watch the game live on the Marquee Sports Network App. pic.twitter.com/5Ay7voz7rE
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 13, 2025
