Chicago Cubs Lineup (6/2/26): Throwing It Back to 1980s with Jump on Bump at Wrigley
The Cubs are playing a brand of baseball that looks more like 2012 than 2016, but they’re going to throw it all the way back to the 80s tonight. That’s because Gage Jump is on the bump for the visiting A’s, which gives us oldsters some nostalgia for the Van Halen intro music on WGN. You got to roll with the punches to get to what’s real, so here’s to hoping we see the real Cubs in this one.
Jameson Taillon ain’t the worst that you’ve seen, but he’s been pretty close to it this season with 19 home runs allowed in 11 starts. He has made too many mistakes in the zone and hitters have had no trouble barreling them up. The goal in this one is to get through at least five innings with fewer than four runs allowed.
Craig Counsell is sticking with the newest iteration of a lineup that once again sees Nico Hoerner leading off against lefties, so that’s where the second baseman is tonight. Pete Crow-Armstrong is in center as he looks to build on a hot streak since adjusting to his increased bat speed, Alex Bregman is at third, and Seiya Suzuki cleans up in right. Ian Happ is in left, Carson Kelly is the catcher, Michael Busch is at first, and Kevin Alcántara gets his DH platoon on. Dansby Swanson is the caboose at short.
They’re facing Jump, who is making just the second start of his MLB career. Drafted in the second round out of LSU in 2024, the southpaw blazed through the minors in less than two seasons by putting up big strikeout numbers with very few homers allowed. He did, however, allow 126 hits with 54 walks over 150.2 innings. His first start was more of the same, with four earned runs allowed on nine hits. Jump struck out five with one walk and no homers in that one.
Coming in at No. 3 on the Athletics’ top prospects list, Jump was a top 50 draft prospect in high school who opted for college before accepting a $2 million overslot bonus. His 96 mph has good ride, but his below-average extension doesn’t help much. His MLB Pipeline profile notes a low arm slot, but his 42-degree slot in his first start is actually quite high.
Jump threw the heater over 50% of the time, then leaned into his slider and sweeper really heavily against left-handed batters. Righties saw a few sliders and some changeups, plus a curve with serious depth. There’s not enough on this guy for me to offer much, especially with the conflicting information on him. Having a sweeper with a slider that has more glove-side movement than most is certainly more indicative of a low-slot thrower, but the riding fastball and deep curve speak to more of an over-the-top guy.
I wonder if chasing fastball vert has gotten his arm up a little bit, which is something that could level out over time. We’ll see for ourselves tonight at 7:05pm CT on Marquee and 104.3 FM The Score.
Back home at @ofcwrigleyfield.
Watch the game live on @WatchMarquee. pic.twitter.com/ZhmFizdvyR
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 2, 2026
