Chicago Cubs Lineup (3/8/20, AZ SS): Bote Leads Off, Almora DH, Descalso 3B, Quintana Starting
It’s another split-squad afternoon, with the Cubs keeping half the team in Mesa while the rest enjoy the confines of Las Vegas Ballpark. The lineup facing the Diamondbacks at Sloan is, uh, something. David Bote leads off at second base, Kyle Schwarber is in left, Willson Contreras is behind the plate, and Jason Heyward bats cleanup in right.
Steven Souza Jr. is listed in center with Albert Almora Jr. as DH, which feels like an Opposite Day joke. Daniel Descalso is at third, Hernán Pérez is at first, and Zack Short plays his surname. Even though spring lineups mean little, the fact that Descalso continues to play all over the diamond only strengthens the near certainty that he makes the 26-man roster. Surely that .095 average will trend up soon.
José Quintana is on the mound for just the second time this spring after getting a late start due to the flu, but he was able to go two innings in his debut and should go deeper this afternoon. Both sides of his game were on display in that first game, with a rough first frame followed by three grounders to second in the next. Which Q do the Cubs get today?
First pitch is at 3:05pm CT, but there’s no television coverage and the only radio call is from ESPN Phoenix 620, so you’ll have to follow this one online.
Diamondbacks vs. Cubs (split-squad), Duplantier vs. Quintana at Sloan Park: pic.twitter.com/xnAjZN5zpK
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) March 8, 2020
