The Chicago Cubs have announced their Game 1 lineup against the San Diego Padres for Tuesday night’s Wild Card opener, and although Alex Bregman is ready to hit, the infielder is not starting at third base.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell wasn’t comfortable risking any further damage to Bregman, who suffered multiple facial fractures after a foul ball smashed the left side of his face on Sept. 20 against the Cincinnati Reds while standing near the on-deck circle. Bregman was back in action less than a week after the injury, as he was fortunate enough to avoid surgery. He was the DH in the last two games of the regular season against the Boston Red Sox, and he looked great in the season finale, going 4-for-4 with two home runs on Sunday.
However, Bregman won’t be making a return to third base just yet. So, instead, it’ll be rookie switch-hitter Pedro Ramirez getting the nod at the hot corner. That decision has caused a domino effect, shifting Michael Conforto to the bench. Conforto would ideally be the DH, but he’s now out of the lineup because Bregman’s injury has forced him to DH.
While Ramirez has done a good job overall during his rookie season, there’s no question that Conforto’s bat has been better, especially as of late.
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Michael Conforto: .240/.331/.469, 119 wRC+, 15 HR, 11.1 BB%, 25.5 K% in 314 PA
Pedro Ramirez: .261/.321/.402, 100 wRC+, 6 HR, 7.5 BB%, 18.4 BB% in 266 PA
Since Sept. 1
Michael Conforto: .259/.353/.431, 117 wRC+, 2 HR, 10.3 BB%, 14.7 K% in 68 PA
Pedro Ramirez: .203/.253/.319, 59 wRC+, 2 HR, 5.3 BB%, 21.3 K% in 75 PA
At the very least, Ramirez provides solid defense at third base, although it’s tough to replace Bregman’s gold-glove performance this year. The only other real argument Cubs fans could make is to have Conforto in the lineup starting in left field over Ian Happ. The longest-tenured player on the team had a down year, posting a 107 wRC+ and in September he only recorded a .654 OPS, batting .197/.321/.333.
Despite the overall dip in production, Happ was still solid against right-handed pitching this season, hitting 20 home runs with an .819 OPS versus righties.
Michael King will start for the Padres. The Cubs don’t have much experience against him, although Bregman has gone 7-for-8 in his career. Conforto is 1-for-11, with three walks and two strikeouts against King in his career. The lone hit was a home run. Happ only has two at-bats against King, going hitless in both at-bats.
