The Cubs get the rubber match at Wrigley Field on Sunday night, and after two straight games of loud offense, they’re rolling out a more familiar look against the Reds.
Chicago has piled up 25 runs over the last two days, with most of that damage coming in Saturday’s 17-5 rout. That game also featured three PCA homers, a reminder that the Cubs’ bats have been scorching hot while the series has tilted back and forth.
For the finale, the Cubs are sticking with a standard alignment against a right-hander. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads off in center field, followed by Seiya Suzuki at DH, Michael Busch at first base, Alex Bregman at third, Ian Happ in left, Nico Hoerner at shortstop, Pedro Ramírez at second, Michael Conforto at DH and Miguel Amaya behind the plate.
Happ is back in the lineup and moves into the five spot, while Hoerner drops to sixth. Suzuki slides back into right field, which sends Matt Shaw to the bench after making his first start in two months on Saturday. Conforto also returns to the DH role.
Ramírez stays near the bottom of the order, but he’s continued to earn that expanded run. He turned in another two-hit performance in Saturday’s blowout and now has multi-hit games in three of his last six outings.
Cincinnati counters with Dane Myers in center, Elly De La Cruz at short, Sal Stewart at first, Tyler Stephenson catching, Eugenio Suarez at DH, JJ Bleday in left, Matt McLain at second, Hector Rodríguez in right and Edwin Arroyo at third.
The bigger question for Chicago is Shota Imanaga. He’s coming off a rough outing against the Seattle Mariners, when he lasted just 2.0 innings, allowed two runs and five hits, and was pulled by Craig Counsell.
Imanaga’s early work has been a pretty good tell lately. If he’s sharp from the first few batters, he can settle in.
If not, the trouble has tended to come fast. He’s given up too much hard contact overall, and the long ball has been a problem, with eight home runs allowed in his last five starts.
That sets up a difficult assignment for the Cubs. Chase Burns has been excellent, posting a 2.77 ERA across 25 games and going 14-3. He’s struck out hitters at a 28.9 percent clip, powered by a four-seamer that lives in the high-90s and a slider that has produced a 51.7 whiff rate.
After the way Chicago’s offense has been humming, the Cubs would love another breakout. But with Burns on the mound, another 17-run outburst looks like a long shot.
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