Baseball is back! Well, it's spring training, but still, after a couple weeks of watching bullpen sessions and batting practice and following four months of anticipation the Cubs are finally playing baseball, facing off against the Giants today to begin spring training action this season.
The Cubs released their first starting lineup and you kind of get the feeling that this could be the Opening Day lineup next month. The best defensive middle infield in baseball is at the top of the order with Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson batting one and two, followed by Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki as the cleanup hitter.
Overall, there are four free agents signed this past offseason in this first lineup, as Cody Bellinger, Trey Mancini and Eric Hosmer made David Ross' starting nine along with Swanson.
I'd say the corner infield guys are the two main positions where we could see someone else start on Opening Day. Of course, that is if there aren't any other injuries from now through the end of spring training. The Cubs have a bunch of players who could start at third base and with the addition of left-handed power hitter Edwin Rios and Mancini's better reputation defensively at first base, Hosmer has to show he belongs in the lineup.
Meanwhile, right-hander Marcus Stroman gets the starting nod on the mound and although there hasn't been an official announcement from Ross, it is very likely that Stroman will be the Opening Day stater. Long-time Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks is about one month behind his normal schedule to get ready for the beginning of the regular season and although he's started multiple Opening Days for the team in previous years, he probably wouldn't have done it this year regardless of his readiness.
As always, Stroman will only get in an inning, possibly two in his first spring training start. He will be followed by right-handed pitcher Adrian Sampson, who is competing for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. The Cubs have also scheduled Mark Leiter Jr., Roenis Elías, Vinny Nittoli and Eric Stout to pitch in the spring training opener.
Besides Sampson, Leiter probably has the best shot to make the Opening Day roster as one of the eight relievers. Leiter was fantastic once he permanently became a reliever for the Cubs in 2022. But keep an eye on veteran left-hander Roenis Elías, who was amazing as a starting pitcher during Winter Ball. Elías has had previous success as a starter, multi-inning reliever and even closed out games during his tenure with the Seattle Mariners.
So, what do you think about the first lineup? What do you like, what would you change and what do you ultimately think it will look like on Opening Day? Let us know in the comments and while you're here, check out Seiya Suzuki's new-look at the plate.
UPDATE
Well, we have the first lineup change of 2023 for the Cubs. And it's the aforementioned Seiya Suzuki, who is dealing with oblique tightness. Cubs prospect Brennen Davis will get the start in right field instead.
Now, I'm not going to freak out on Feb. 25, but I did have a nervous chuckle when I read that it was an oblique issue. Again, not a big deal, but hopefully this is just a one-day thing.
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