After a rough sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs are back at Wrigley Field trying to stop the slide and claw back ground in the race for the top Wild Card spot. The next test is another division opponent, and while Chicago has handled Pittsburgh well in recent years, this Pirates group arrives with some real momentum after rolling through Rate Field behind strong pitching.
The opener is set for 1:20 CT at Wrigley Field, with Marquee Sports Network carrying the game and 104.3 The Score on the radio.
Chicago is running out a familiar lineup, with one notable tweak from Wednesday. Michael Conforto moves up to the seven spot and shifts back to DH, while Pedro Ramírez drops to eighth. That also puts Seiya Suzuki back in right field.
The Cubs’ order: Pete Crow-Armstrong in center, Suzuki in right, Michael Busch at first, Alex Bregman at third, Ian Happ at DH, Nico Hoerner at short, Conforto at DH, Ramírez at second, and Carson Kelly behind the plate.
Pittsburgh’s lineup brings Konnor Griffin to shortstop, Oneil Cruz to center, Bryan Reynolds at DH, Rafael Flores, Jr. batting cleanup, Esmerlyn Valdez in right, Nick Gonzales at second, Jake Mangum in left, Jared Triolo at third, and Henry Davis catching.
On the mound, Shota Imanaga is looking to build on a much-needed rebound. He was shaky to finish August, but Craig Counsell stuck with him and got rewarded last week against the Miami Marlins.
Imanaga went 6.0 innings, allowed three hits, and gave up just one run. It was also the first time since July 25 that he didn’t surrender a home run, after giving up nine in his previous five starts.
He also matched up well with Pittsburgh the last time around. In that outing, Imanaga worked 6.0 scoreless innings and struck out four. The Cubs would take that again in a hurry.
The bigger break for Chicago is on the other side. Pittsburgh is dangerous on the mound, but the Cubs won’t have to deal with Braxton Ashcraft after his recent move to the IL.
Instead, Wilber Dotel is set to make the first start of his MLB career. He’s been useful out of the bullpen, posting a 4.41 ERA and allowing only two earned runs over his last 8.0 innings.
Dotel, 23, brings a high-90s four-seamer that sits around 98 mph, plus a slider and cutter. Those pitches have helped him post a 24.6 percent strikeout rate this season, but this is still a brand-new role for him. For a Cubs lineup with plenty of experience, it looks like a spot to attack early.
In Other News...
Pirates Lose A Productive Young Bat At The Worst Time
Esmerlyn Valdez had been one of the more productive young bats in the Pirates system, so his move to the 10-day injured list lands at an awkward time for a club trying to keep options open in the outfield. The Pirates made the roster move after Valdez strained his left hamstring while running to first base, and while the injury sent him to the shelf, there is still no clear sense yet of how long he might be out.
Ronny Simon was summoned from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the open spot on the active roster, giving Pittsburgh another utility option while it waits for more information on Valdez. For now, the concern is less about the replacement and more about what the Pirates lost, since any extended absence from a young hitter with momentum can change the look of the roster quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Need Jake Mangum Again After Another Costly Outfield Loss
The Pirates were already juggling their outfield depth, and now they have another opening to cover after placing rookie Esmerlyn Valdez on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Pittsburgh recalled Ronny Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the roster spot, but the more immediate effect is on the alignment behind him, where Valdez had been providing a real offensive boost even while working through some growing pains.
Manager Don Kelly said Jake Mangum is expected to see more time in the outfield, a familiar sort of assignment for a player who has already stepped in for injured teammates this season. For a club trying to keep its lineup steady through another setback, Mangums ability to plug holes again could end up mattering as much as any single bat in the short term. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Top Prospects Just Moved One Step From A Title
The Pirates High-A affiliate is still playing meaningful baseball, and several of the organizations top prospects have helped keep Greensboro in the hunt. The Grasshoppers advanced to the South Atlantic League Championship Series after taking their Division Series over Frederick, with Edward Florentino, Tony Blanco Jr., Wyatt Sanford, Reinold Navarro and Levi Sterling all contributing during the playoff run.
Greensboro now gets a chance to go one step farther, with Winston-Salem waiting in the Championship Series set to begin Sept. 13. For a Pirates farm system that has been trying to stockpile both talent and winning habits, this is the kind of stage that gives young players a little extra pressure and a little more visibility, especially with so many familiar names still in the mix. [Read more 🡒]