Chicago Cubs Lineup (8/6/26): Peterson Starting Makeup Game Against Jays, Cease

This game was supposed to have been played back on June 21, but it became the first of two consecutive games banged due to rain. I can only imagine how angry that made Craig Counsell, who is notoriously opposed to rainouts. There was a little hope earlier in the week that we might get Kevin Gausman and Jameson Taillon each facing their old teams just days after being traded, but the latter pitched yesterday and the former will go on Friday in Kansas City.

Taillon gave up three earned runs in four innings of work, striking out four with two walks and six hits allowed. You’ll all be shocked to learn that he served up a homer to move him to within two of the MLB lead. Taillon did, however, maintain his HR/9 lead, moving to 2.93 on the season. Germán Márquez is in second with a 2.38, but he was just DFA’d by the Padres.

The Cubs are opting for another trade acquisition this afternoon in David Peterson, who has had some longball issues of his own since coming over from the Mets. It hasn’t hurt him because he’s pitched really well otherwise, with a rising groundball rate that keeps opponents from starting rallies. More of that should keep the Cubs in a good spot today.

MVP favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong is back in center with Seiya Suzuki at DH and Michael Busch at first. Alex Bregman handles the hot corner, Ian Happ is in left, Nico Hoerner is at second, and Michael Conforto is in right. Dansby Swanson plays short and Miguel Amaya is behind the dish.

They’re facing former Cubs farmhand Dylan Cease, who was slated to pitch that earlier game. The righty has remained in the Cy Young conversation all season and would be the frontrunner if not for the Yankees’ Cam Schlittler. Some of that is based on volume, as Cease has 20 fewer innings over four fewer starts, so the next few weeks could determine the winner.

Cease is mainly a two-pitch guy who relies on his 97-98 mph fastball and the best slider in the game to dominate opponents. His 89 mph breaking ball has generated the most overall value in the game at 19.8 runs, and it’s also the best per 100 pitches (2.89 runs). Only Jacob Misiorowski‘s fastball and Nolan McLean‘s sinker have produced more total runs saved than Cease’s slider, which he usually dots right at the lower glove-side corner of the zone.

When paired with the cut-ride heater that works middle-up, the slider is untouchable when it’s right. Left-handed hitters have to deal with an 83 mph changeup that relies more on arm-side fade than depth, while righties will get a few 96 mph sinkers in on the hands. Cease also throws a loopy 83 mph curve and the odd 84 mph sweeper, but the fastball and slider will do a vast majority of the damage.

The lone weakness in his game right now is a 10.6% walk rate that will be the highest of his career for a full season if it stays that high. He’s walked three or more batters in 12 of 20 starts, so the Cubs should get a few baserunners even if they’re not hitting all that well. That also leads to Cease being inefficient with his pitch count, a hallmark of big strikeout pitchers, so it could be a matter of getting into the bullpen. While Toronto’s unit is strong, just about anything is preferable to Cease right now.

Over a total of 106 at-bats, this Cubs roster is slashing .198/.274/.349 with two homers and 43 strikeouts against today’s starter. Busch has accounted for both homers and Happ is batting .043 with 12 strikeouts in 23 tries, so I’m not sure we can count on power to win the day. The wind should be blowing in from left and there’s a chance of rain, creating suboptimal hitting conditions. This is one where the Cubs’ collective patience may be required.

First pitch is at 1:20pm CT on Marquee and The Score.