Chicago Cubs Lineup (8/27/24): Tauchman in RF, Bellinger at 1B, Steele Starting
The Cubs got this series off to quite a start last night, banging out 21 hits and stealing eight bases en route to an 18-run outburst that saw the Pirates turn to Rowdy Tellez on the mound. They managed to wear down Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller very early, but Domingo Germán wore it over 2.2 innings to save the bullpen. That could be big tonight with the return of Jared Jones, who has been activated from the IL after missing several weeks with a lat strain.
The rookie righty has a 3.56 ERA over 16 starts and has struck out 98 batters over 91 innings, including 11 Cubs in back-to-back starts three months ago. Jones earned split decisions in those contests and allowed seven hits in each, with Ian Happ and Cody Bellinger tagging him for homers. That might tell you he’s susceptible to left-handed batters, but the splits are pretty neutral overall.
Lefties do tend to see Jones a little better and have drawn more walks with two more doubles, but that just comes out to 29 more points of OPS and 12 of wOBA. He appears to have shaken off the rust from his layoff with 10 strikeouts and just one hit and walk apiece over five innings in his last rehab start, and he could have a little extra giddyup due to the extended rest.
That’s saying something for a dude with a 97 mph fastball, though Jones can sometimes leave it middle-middle for too many barrels. If he’s able to blow that heater past hitters to get ahead, his slider is a tremendous weapon that sits in the 88th percentile for run value despite all the time he’s missed. He does a great job of dotting the lower glove-side corner for chases and whiffs, making him nearly unhittable if he’s locating well.
The fastball and slider account for around 86% of his pitches, so the curve and changeup serve as little other than show-me offerings. Both have actually been quite bad so far, but if he can ever figure them out…wow. The Cubs need to attack that fastball and keep Jones on his heels by avoiding two-strike counts, something they’ve done well during these recent offensive outbursts.
There’s a different look to the lineup tonight with Happ in left and Mike Tauchman batting second in right. Seiya Suzuki is the DH, Bellinger plays first, Isaac Paredes is at third, and Nico Hoerner plays second. Dansby Swanson is at short, Pete Crow-Armstrong mans center, and Miguel Amaya is behind the dish.
The Pirates will have a new look as well, with shortstop Oneil Cruz flexing out to center for at least the immediate future. Interesting.
On the mound for the visitors is Justin Steele, who’s been incredibly consistent over the last three seasons now. He lost to the Pirates earlier in the season when he was still working back from the hamstring injury that cost him over a month, but he struck out seven with just one walk. Steele has been very good over the last four starts and should be able to do more of the same tonight.
First pitch is at 5:40pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score.
Steele Day in the Steel City!
Tune in: https://t.co/Gs2hZXyTjH pic.twitter.com/6pQAsUhmjz
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 27, 2024