For the series finale in Phoenix, the Cubs are leaning into some lineup shuffling and hoping Matthew Boyd can steady a club that’s been burned late far too often lately.
Chicago has dropped three of its last four on walk-off losses, including Tuesday night’s finish when Daniel Palencia struggled and Jacob Webb eventually gave up the Diamondbacks’ game-winning homer. That kind of ending is hard to shake, especially this late in the calendar, but the Cubs will try to reset with Boyd taking the ball in the rubber match.
Boyd gives Craig Counsell a chance to stretch the game without leaning on the bullpen too early. He’s the kind of veteran who can chew through innings, and that matters after the recent late-game messes.
The Cubs are also changing up the batting order against a left-handed starter. Tyrone Taylor is in left field instead of Ian Happ, and he’ll hit sixth ahead of Pedro Ramírez. Carson Kelly is back in the lineup after sitting Tuesday, and he already homered in the series opener.
The biggest wrinkle is Gabriel Arias. Claimed off waivers from the New York Mets, he’s making his first start in a Cubs uniform after debuting in the Cubs’ 19-2 win over the Mariners, when he drove in two runs and scored once.
The move is a little surprising on paper because Arias has had real trouble against lefties this season, hitting .133 in 45 at-bats. He’s usually been much better against right-handers.
But the Cubs didn’t bring him in just for the bat. His defense is part of the appeal, and he can play second base, which lets Nico Hoerner stay at shortstop and moves Pedro Ramírez to third.
That also gives Alex Bregman a day off in the field, though he remains third in the order.
Boyd’s recent results haven’t been pretty. He’s allowed at least four earned runs in three of his last four starts, including a seven-run outing against the Cardinals on August 15. The home run has been the big issue, even though limiting it has usually been one of his strengths.
Still, there’s reason to think this could be a better spot for him. He pitched well against Arizona in early May, and the Cubs will need him to look more like the pitcher they trust if they want to avoid another bullpen-heavy finish. Counsell may also be more cautious about how deep he lets Boyd work, especially after the approach he used with Shota Imanaga last time out.
On the other side, Eduardo Rodriguez has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. He’s worked to a 2.61 ERA and a 13-4 record while posting a strikeout rate that sits in just the 13th percentile. His formula is all about weak contact, using a low-90s four-seamer and sharp breaking balls to keep hitters off balance.
That said, the Cubs should be capable of forcing some traffic on the bases if they stay disciplined. Rodriguez has been getting the job done anyway, including holding the Dodgers to two earned runs a couple of weeks ago.
Who: Chicago Cubs (76-57) vs Arizona Diamondbacks (70-63)
Where: Chase Field - Phoenix, AZ
When: 2:40 PM CT
Watch: Marquee Sports Network
Listen: 104.3 The Score
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