Chicago Cubs Lineup (5/1/22): Rivas Leads Off Playing 1B, Schwindel DH, Stroman Pitching

To say the Chicago Cubs are struggling right now would be kind. They started the season 3-1 and have gone 5-12 since. That includes going 1-5 over the past week, with that one win coming in extra innings. So, yeah, things are a little rough right now.

Marcus Stroman takes the hill today looking to stop the bleeding. He’s sporting a robust 6.98 ERA over 19.1 innings pitched, but his last start gives us a little hope. Against the Braves this past Tuesday, Stroman recorded his first quality start of the season allowing two earned runs over six innings. The Cubs’ offense, however, was dead flat, which has been the case more often than not lately.

Manager David may finally be coming to his senses, at least when it comes to the top of the lineup.

Alfonso Rivas is leading off and playing first base for the Cubs today. We’ve been screaming for this pretty obvious move — both slotting Rivas in leadoff and playing him at first — so let’s just hope that this sticks, regardless of the short-term results in today’s game. Of course, if Rivas rakes then at least it will be a little more difficult for Ross to switch back to Ortega at leadoff.

Seiya Suzuki is back batting second in the order playing right, followed by Ian Happ in left, Frank Schwindel playing DH, and Patrick Wisdom at third. Jason Heyward is once again playing center and he’s batting sixth, with Nice Hoerner following and playing short, Yan Gomes batting eighth catching, and Nick Madrigal at the bottom of the order playing second.

Corbin Burnes will take the mound against the Cubs today and you can bet he’ll be looking to exact revenge. Back on opening day against the Cubs, Burnes lasted only five innings, his shortest start of the season thus far, and the Brewers lost the game 5-4. Burnes gave up three runs on four hits and three walks while pitching uncharacteristically wild.

This is not exactly the perfect set-up for a bounce-back game for the Cubs, but we’ll see. Maybe Burnes falls apart again and gifts the Cubs a win. Or perhaps the Cubs bats get going today just in time to save the season from slipping away very early.

First pitch from Milwaukee is at 1:10pm CT on Marquee Sports Network and 670 The Score.

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