Chicago Cubs Lineup

Chicago Cubs Lineup (7/6/24): Win Streak Dangerously Close

Photo of Evan Altman Evan AltmanJuly 6, 2024

It’s been a long time since the Cubs won three games, so long that I’m not even going to say when they last did it because I’m on a positivity trip. This should be the last of the uber-short lineup previews and I may even get back to more editorials here shortly. While I don’t expect to get much sympathy, slaving away in the content mines can get more than a little tedious from time to time.

Anyway, the Cubs have been making it much easier to watch them lately as they put together competent performances. Let’s hope that continues with Kyle Hendricks on the mound this afternoon. He wasn’t great the last time out, though Ian Happ‘s miscue in left didn’t help.

Nico Hoerner leads off at second, Patrick Wisdom is the DH, Cody Bellinger is in center, and Seiya Suzuki is in right. Ian Happ is in left, Michael Busch is at first, Dansby Swanson is at short, and David Bote handles third with Tomás Nido behind the plate.

They’re facing Angels lefty Tyler Anderson, who’s got a losing record despite posting a 3.03 ERA through 17 starts. That number is a mirage, though, as Anderson’s 15.5% strikeout rate is the lowest and his 10.9% walk rate is the highest in MLB among qualified starters. He also gives up a lot of contact in the air, so it’s amazing he’s not doing much worse.

The key is a 79 mph changeup that stays arm-side and has generated 10 runs of value, putting Anderson in the 99th percentile among offspeed pitches. His four-seamer is pedestrian at best, working the top of the zone at 89 mph. Even if the Cubs don’t hit a bunch of homers, they should be able to put plenty of men on base this afternoon. It’s just a matter of cashing them in.

First pitch is at 1:20pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score.

Photo of Evan Altman Evan AltmanJuly 6, 2024
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