Tuesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds was rained out and that game had the potential to be exactly what the Chicago Cubs needed to break out of their offensive funk. Joe Maddon put Ben Zobrist in the leadoff spot, but now he’s made another slight change, as the Cubs begin a four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.
Ian Happ is back at the leadoff spot and Albert Almora Jr. remains in the lineup as well, with Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward sitting in the series-opener in Milwaukee. The biggest change is Kris Bryant being moved down a spot, which means Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras also get bumped down a slot.
It’s something that a good portion of Cubs fans have been demanding and well Maddon is obliging for the first time this season.
Here is tonight's #Cubs lineup in Milwaukee! #EverybodyIn
Stream on @YouTubeTV: https://t.co/t4XvcdoeJc pic.twitter.com/4iVQX4iSSc
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 5, 2018
Bryant has primarily hit second throughout his three-year career with the Cubs, but he’s basically been good where ever he bats. In 2017, Bryant batted third in 38 games and although he only had a .254 average, he still put up a .964 OPS, with 10 home runs and 10 doubles.
Overall, Bryant has been in the No. 3 spot 168 times throughout his career, with .263/.364/.521 slash line.
The Cubs are facing lefty Brent Suter, who shut them down in two starts last season. Suter pitched seven shutout innings on July 28, 2017, giving up four hits and a walk in a 2-1 win for the Brewers. Then, late in the season he got a no-decision on Sept. 23, 2017, surrendering one run on six hits over 5.1 innings. The Brewers won that game 4-3, after Wade David blew his only save of the year.
So, we’ll see if the Cubs can break out of their slump, as they’ve been held scoreless in their last two games. Also, hopefully Jon Lester looks more sharp on the mound after he failed to make it out of the fourth inning on Opening Day.
Following the rain out and the day off, the Cubs bullpen is fully rested after pitching 26 innings in the first five games.
