Ross Rolls Out New Chicago Cubs Starting Lineup Sunday Against Diamondbacks
With their backs against the wall, the Chicago Cubs are rolling out a new starting lineup Sunday for their series finale at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cubs are on the brink of being swept and have dropped seven of their last nine games, in the thick of a playoff chase. A loss Sunday would drop the Cubs from the second National League Wild Card spot to a tie for the third Wild Card with the Miami Marlins. The Marlins took four of six games from the Cubs this season and own a tiebreaker over the Cubs, meaning the Cubs would fall out of the playoffs with a loss Sunday evening.
Cubs manager David Ross is using a starting lineup he hasn't gone to all season.
For only the second time in 2023, Ian Happ will bat lead-off. Happ made his first start as the club's table-setter Saturday, going 2-for-6 in a 7-6, 13-inning loss in Phoenix. Happ had occupied the three-hole for the team for most of the season, but has struggled mightily. Over the past five months, Happ has slashed just .218/.330/.725. Ross moved Happ to sixth in the Cubs' lineup last Sunday, but has since batted him third, and now, in the lead-off spot.
The Cubs' top seven batters Sunday will resemble the lineup Ross went to Saturday, but Ross did make a pair of notable changes at the bottom of his lineup. Patrick Wisdom will receive the start at third base, over Nick Madrigal, batting ninth. Rookie Miguel Amaya will bat eighth, starting in place of Yan Gomes.
Rookie Jordan Wicks (3-0, 1.99 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs, as they play on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball for the first time all season.
Here's a look at the Cubs' starting lineup for their series finale Sunday against the Diamondbacks:
1) LF Ian Happ
2) 2B Nico Hoerner
3) DH Christopher Morel
4) 1B Cody Bellinger
5) SS Dansby Swanson
6) RF Seiya Suzuki
7) CF Mike Tauchman
8) 3B Patrick Wisdom
9) C Miguel Amaya
SP Jordan Wicks
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