Opening Day is exactly one month away for the Cubs and their starting lineup Thursday against the Oakland A's might serve as a preview of what's to come to start the 2019 season.
Jon Lester will most likely be tabbed as the Opening Day starter against the Rangers on March 28, and Willson Contreras will also be behind the plate, but the rest of today's starters in Mesa are probably going to make the starting nine in Texas.
https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1101181636488687621
Again, it's kind of a preview of the Opening Day lineup.
The Cubs are starting the year on the road in an American League park, so they'll have the DH. Although Kyle Schwarber has improved in the outfield and is pretty much average in left field now, I still think Ben Zobrist will get the start there and Schwarber will be the DH come March 28.
Meanwhile, new Cubs infielder Daniel Descalso probably gets the nod at second as he is today, but one thing I just can't see staying the same is Albert Almora Jr. leading off. It should be Zobrist at the top anytime he's in the lineup.
And of course this isn't a direct comparison because Contreras isn't in the lineup today, so that will change on Opening Day too.
Zobrist, Descalso and Ian Happ will all see time at second base this season. Well, Happ is working hard in spring training to earn more playing time there after the Cubs shifted his focus to the outfield last year.
And just for shits and giggles here's my preferred lineup on Opening Day against the Rangers.
- Ben Zobrist - LF
- Kris Bryant - 3B
- Anthony Rizzo - 1B
- Javier Baez - SS
- Kyle Schwarber - DH
- Willson Contreras - C
- Jason Heyward - RF
- Albert Almora Jr. - CF
- Daniel Descalso - 2B
