At least one thing is certain about the starting lineup the Cubs will send out on opening day next week.
It will look very different from last season, let alone the recent past.
Gone are Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javy Báez and Joc Pederson, and David Bote will open this season on the 60-day injured list as he rehabs from off-season shoulder surgery. This group made up half of the lineup for opening day 2021.
The departures of Rizzo, Bryant and Báez make the differences clear. It’s been six years since this trio wasn’t in the Cubs’ opening day lineup. Rizzo and Bryant started the 2016 opener while Báez was on the bench.
You’ll have to go further back for the last opening-day lineup that didn’t feature Rizzo, Bryant, or Báez: 2012. Rizzo made his Cubs debut that summer, Bryant was still in college, and Báez was in Single-A.
Willson Contreras, Ian Happ, Jason Heyward and Kyle Hendricks – the expected starters of the 2022 opening day – are returning from the 2021 opener.
The Cubs have also made a number of additions this winter, giving manager David Ross a ton of possible lineup combinations, certainly with the addition of the universal DH.
What could it be like next Thursday at Wrigley Field?
TIED TOGETHER: Squad projection for the Cubs opening day
Our Cubs coverage team have lineup predictions for opening day and only one seems to make sense as they attack Brewer’s ace and reigning Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes.
As Ricky Bobby might say, with all due respect to our Cubs pundits, what have they been looking at this spring?
Gordon Wittenmeyer
2B Nick Madrigal (R) – One of the top touch rates in MLB; small impact zone
DH Ian Happ (S) — Best left-handed option on the list; good eye, power
C Willson Contreras (R) – Top veteran batsman on the list
RF Seiya Suzuki (R) – Will start making his $85M fast against Burnes
3B Jonathan Villar (S) – Wisdom 4 Ks, 4 ABs against Burnes in ’21
LF Clint Frazier (R) – Breakout candidate in 2022 with good health
1B Frank Vertigo (R) – Was 22 competitive in singles against Burnes
CF Jason Heyward (L) — One of only three left options for deployment
SS Nico Horner (R) — 2nd Best Contact Bat; second leadoff hitter
David Kaplan
DH Nico Hoerner – Solid hitter gives lineup speed; decent pop in his racket
2B Nick Madrigal – Professional hitter who should flirt with .300 every season
1B Frank Schwindel — The same guy who crushed the second half of ’21? Has a chance to prove it
C Willson Contreras – Excellent batter with power and runs well.
RF Seiya Suzuki – Medium Order Classic Racket; has strength and disc discipline
LF Ian Happ – Powerful switch hitter; going well; must much less k
CF Jason Heyward – He is what he is. Not a big bat
3B Patrick Wisdom – Has excellent power. is he real
SS Andrelton Simmons (R) – Tremendous defender; little pop, below average hitter
Tim Stebbins
2B Nick Madrigal – Elite Contact Skills; 200-hit potential if he’s healthy all season
RF Seiya Suzuki – Good plate discipline with power to pair
C Willson Contreras – top returning bat; Sixth straight start for Cubs – and last?
DH Ian Happ – Power of the Left; potential DH elbow surgery in early postseason
1B Frank Schwindel – Deserved opportunity to build up Breakout ’21
LF Clint Frazier – A low-risk, potentially high-reward signing could be a big year ahead
3B Patrick Wisdom – Biggest power hitter on the roster looks to be building Breakout ’21
CF Jason Heyward – Veteran and one of three left-handed bats on the list.
SS Nico Hoerner – leadoff runner-up batsman; Shortstop when Simmons (shoulder) is unwilling
Well, maybe none of us know what we’re talking about.
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