Chicago Cubs Lineup (7/22/20) – Rizzo’s Back, Bryant’s Back Hurts, Lester Starts Final Exhibition Game
Anthony Rizzo’s back because Anthony Rizzo’s back is feeling good enough to let him return to action. He’ll be batting second and playing first behind Kris Bryant, with Javy Báez at short and Kyle Schwarber in left. Willson Contreras is catching, Jason Heyward is in right, David Bote is the DH, Jason Kipnis is at second base, and Ian Happ is in center.
Update: Bryant has been scratched due to back tightness, a measure the Cubs say is strictly precautionary. Happ moves to the leadoff spot and will play left, Schwarber is the DH, Bote plays third, and Albert Almora Jr. slots in at center and the ninth spot.
Jon Lester takes the bump for the Cubs as they face the Twins in their third and final exhibition tuneup ahead of Friday’s season opener. Lester has been tabbed as the Cubs’ fourth starter, so he’ll pitch again this coming Monday when the Cubs are in Cincy to take on the Reds. He’ll be followed in the order by Alec Mills, who was officially named the fifth starter after a sim game earlier.
Tyler Chatwood, the third starter, pitched a simulated game yesterday as he preps for his return to the rotation.
The Twins will send old friend Homer Bailey to the mound in this one, so maybe he’ll recapture some of that Reds magic that made his name so appropriate. The 34-year-old righty inked a one-year, $7 million deal with Minnesota coming off of a season in which he put up a 4.57 ERA, his best since 2014. Bailey got away from the sinker in 2019, opting instead for a lot more splitters, so that’s something to watch for in this one.
First pitch is 6:05pm CT on Marquee Sports Network and MLB Network, with 670 The Score on the radio coverage.
Anthony Rizzo returns to the #Cubs lineup tonight against the Twins! pic.twitter.com/vfrsHKqVfS
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 22, 2020
