You know what, I shouldn’t be surprised because it is Joe Maddon and we are used to seeing lots of daily lineup changes, but I was still a little taken aback when the Chicago Cubs tweeted out Friday’s lineup.
It has to do with the fact Maddon said he’d give Ian Happ a shot at being the every-day leadoff man as long as he was handling the spot well. On the very first pitch Thursday, Happ started Opening Day with a homer against the Miami Marlins, but he won’t be in the lineup Friday night against left-handed starter Caleb Smith.
Here is tonight's #Cubs starting lineup! #EverybodyIn
Game preview: https://t.co/tPYYpj6jNu pic.twitter.com/OqDZucfKCC
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 30, 2018
But again, it was never a guarantee that Happ, who is a switch-hitter, would be in the leadoff spot every game. Add in Albert Almora Jr.’s numbers against lefties and the absence of Happ isn’t really a big deal.
Reminder: In 168 career PAs against lefties, Albert Almora has done this:
.320/.377/.503
8.3% BB
13.1% KIt's of course still small sample, but he's exactly where I want him against lefties.
— FullCountTommy (@FullCountTommy) March 30, 2018
The other change from Game 1 to 2, is Ben Zobrist in right field replacing Jason Heyward. I know, it’s the second game of the season, but could this be the start of the platoon most Cubs fans have been asking for?
Sitting Heyward against lefties isn’t anything new for Maddon, but that’s been done late in the season during the past two years. It’s game 2 of 162 and Heyward is already sitting here in 2018.
Heyward did go 1-for-3, with a walk in the opener and made a great play on defense as well.
Jason Heyward playing a lot in right field is good the #Cubs. Deal with it. pic.twitter.com/y4Zsl7mx5A
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) March 29, 2018
Still has value no matter what happens at the plate.
The other interesting dynamic with the possible platoon is that Kyle Schwarber remains in left field against a lefty pitcher. But you know, when you do this you gotta keep that bat in the lineup.
Kyle Schwarber home run. Boom #Cubs pic.twitter.com/jTkjWULE3J
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) March 29, 2018
So, we’ll see what happens going forward, but once again it’s a reminder that changes will happen daily and that’s worked out pretty well for the Cubs in the past three years.
One last note, Kyle Hendricks is making his 100th career start tonight and you know how Jake Arrieta had his dominant run with the Cubs? The professor might just pass him.
Hendricks is currently second behind some guy named Clayton Kershaw in career ERA with at least 75 starts.
Tonight is #Cubs Hendricks' 100th career start since making his Major League debut in 2014. His 2.94 career ERA is 2nd among all active pitchers with at least 75 starts (Kershaw, 2.36, is 1st)
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) March 30, 2018
Is that good? I think that’s pretty good.
