Cubs Lineup vs White Sox
I know this isn’t a scorching hot take or anything, but I also know some people just fundamentally disagree: I’m not World Series or bust this year. I just want the Cubs to play meaningful games in August and September (and ideally a playoff series or two). That’s it. But to get there, they need to avoid a sell off on August 1. And to do that, they need to win a majority of their next six games, which includes these next two on the South Side.
Here’s a look at the Chicago Cubs lineup for the first of two games against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
Mike Tauchman, CF Nico Hoerner, 2B Ian Happ, LF Cody Bellinger, 1B Seiya Suzuki, RF Dansby Swanson, SS Chris Morel, DH Yan Gomes, C Miles Mastrobuoni, 3B
Good solid Cubs lineup for the opener against the White Sox, especially considering Michael Kopech’s 16.8% walk rate against left-handed batters this year. Expect Ian Happ and Miles Mastrobuoni to take some free passes today. And I’ve got Bellinger at an over/under of 3 home runs, because why not.
As a reminder … the Cubs reaaaally have to win.
This is, more or less, why I see 5-1 as necessary. That is the record over the next six that ensures the Cubs will be over .500 the night before the deadline when they start that series against the Reds.
In other words, at 5-1, the Cubs ABSOLUTELY cannot sell. No chance. https://t.co/CJc2hvxo7m — Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) July 25, 2023
Chicago White Sox Lineup:
Andrew Benintendi, LF Tim Anderson, SS Luis Robert, CF Eloy Jimenez, DH Yoan Moncada, 3B Andrew Vaughn, 1B Yasmani Grandal, C Jake Burger, 2B Oscar Colas, RF
Pitching Matchup:
Chicago Cubs: Kyle Hendricks, RHP
Kyle Hendricks most recent start was his second best of the season (behind only his near-no-hitter): 6.0 IP, 5H, 1ER, 0BB, 5K. He actually has exactly five strikeouts in each of his last four games with just ONE walk combined. That’s nuts. The Red Sox and Yankees did get to him a bit offensively, but he’s generally been pretty great this year. I have no doubt the Cubs would be WAY out of it by now if it weren’t for Hendricks. Let’s hope he can keep it going against a White Sox team that struggles against right-handed pitching (84 wRC+, 27th in MLB).
Chicago White Sox: Michael Kopech, RHP
I mentioned it earlier today, but Michael Kopech has been a walking MACHINE this year, with 24 walks in his last five games, alone. Indeed, his 14.1% walk rate is the highest in MLB among all starters with at least 90.0 IP. And while we’re on it, lefties are walking at an obscene 16.8% rate against Kopech this year (also worst in baseball). That should work out well for the Cubs lineup, who is among the more patient groups in baseball, especially against right-handed pitchers (9.4 BB%, 4th highest).
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs (48-51) vs Chicago White Sox (41-60) at 7:10 pm CT on MARQ, 670 The Score
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Source: bleachernation.com
