Chicago Cubs Lineup (6/8/23): Amaya DH, Mancini at 1B, Smyly Playing Stopper

The Cubs have dropped two straight to the Angels in rather unimpressive fashion, though they did manage to hold a lead in each game before allowing their opponents to surge ahead. Drew Smyly is now tasked with keeping his offense in a position to get a much-needed win, but he’s going to need to step up his game to make it happen.

Smyly has allowed 10 earned runs in 15.1 innings over his last three starts and has given up 18 hits with seven walks and 11 strikeouts. He’s been far from bad, he’s just not close to great lately. Not that the Cubs should need every pitcher to throw a shutout just to earn a victory.

Nico Hoerner will get things going at second, then it’s Dansby Swanson at short, Ian Happ in left, Seiya Suzuki in right, and Yan Gomes behind the plate. Miguel Amaya is the DH, Trey Mancini is at first, Patrick Wisdom handles the hot corner, and Mike Tauchman is in center.

It may help that they’re facing Nokomis, IL native Reid Detmers, who is 0-5 with a 5.15 ERA in 10 starts so far. The lefty hurler is the fourth southpaw the Cubs have faced in the last five games, the previous three of whom have all claimed wins. Detmers sits 95 mph with the four-seam and he’s got a 70-grade curve, but his slider has been his best pitch by far.

You’d think David Ross would have looked for a way to get more lefties in there since Detmers has allowed a .340 average with a .936 OPS and .406 wOBA to them this season, but that’s clearly not the case. His career splits are nearly identical, so that’s probably why this is a more traditional matchup. That said, I think it’s important to look at what someone is doing in the present since that’s more indicative of how their performance has changed over time.

Oh well, let’s hope this lineup does the trick. First pitch is at 8:38pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score.

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