CUBS LINEUP: We arrived. The final Spring Training game for the 2024 Chicago Cubs. Following today, the Cubs will head to Arlington to face the Rangers on Opening Day (Thursday). Surprisingly, both the Cubs and Cardinals had lineups loaded with regulars/starters. Quite unusual for the final game of the spring. Having said that, the Cubs appear to have made some strategic/cautious tweaks to their defensive deployment and lineup.
Ian Happ, DH.
Nico Hoerner, second baseman
Cody Bellinger, CF.
Chris Morel, third baseman
Dansby Swanson, SS
Miguel Amaya, C
Mike Tauchman, RF
Garrett Cooper, first baseman
Miles Mastrobuoni, LF.
For starters, Ian Happ is in the Cubs lineup, leading off. But he’s safely tucked away at DH to begin. I don’t think that’ll be the idea for Thursday, but it’s a good way to get him one more game of practice after a totally missing spring. For another, Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch (both of whom had spring training delayed due to injuries) will miss the final game. Again, I don’t believe there is anything going on there other than an opportunity to get some extra rest before the season begins.
Miles Mastrobuoni is covering left field, Mike Tauchman is in right, and Garrett Cooper is at first.
