The Cubs are gearing up for the season opener in Tokyo against the Los Angeles Dodgers and today’s spring training lineup might be a sneak peek of what’s to come. With Shota Imanaga already confirmed as the starter and Nico Hoerner sitting out the trip, the Cubs have a plan. Let’s break down the proposed lineup and what it means.
Cubs Lineup for Tokyo
Here’s how the Cubs will line up in Japan:
- Ian Happ – LF
- Kyle Tucker – DH
- Seiya Suzuki – RF
- Michael Busch – 1B
- Matt Shaw – 3B
- Dansby Swanson – SS
- Pete Crow-Armstrong – CF
- Miguel Amaya – C
- Jon Berti – 2B
Pitching Matchup:
Cubs: Shota Imanaga , LHP
This lineup gives us a glimpse into the Cubs plans for Tokyo and some early season strategy.
Takeaways from the Lineup
Matt Shaw’s Spot in the Order
If Matt Shaw is ready to go—and he looks to be—and he could bat as high as 5th in the order in Tokyo. That might seem aggressive but Craig Counsell has his reasons. Maybe Shaw was placed high to get him extra at-bats after being late to spring due to an oblique injury. But once the Cubs get back to the States, expect Shaw to drop lower in the order, probably behind Pete Crow-Armstrong or 9th if Nico Hoerner returns.
Jon Berti at 2nd
With Nico Hoerner out of the picture for Tokyo, Jon Berti is the obvious choice to play 2nd. Matt Shaw could theoretically slide over to 2nd and Justin Turner play 3rd but keeping Shaw at 3rd makes more sense given his defensive development and long term role on the team. Plus Berti’s versatility and experience makes him a safe bet for these two games.
Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki positions
Also worth noting is Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki’s positions are reversed from what we’ll see during the regular season. Tucker will play RF and Suzuki will DH in Tokyo. Once the regular season starts, Tucker will go back to DH and Suzuki will play the outfield more.
San Diego Padres’ Lineup
To provide context, here’s the Padres’ projected lineup for their matchup against the Cubs:
- Eguy Rosario – 3B
- Gavin Sheets – DH
- Connor Joe – LF
- Oscar Gonzalez – RF
- Luis Campusano – C
- Trenton Brooks – 1B
- Brandon Lockridge – CF
- Clay Dungan – 2B
- Mason McCoy – SS
Pitching Matchup:
- Padres : Matt Waldron (RHP)
Broadcast Information
- Game Time: 2:05 pm CT
- Teams: Chicago Cubs (8-2-3) vs San Diego Padres (3-7)
- How to Watch: Tune in to Marquee Sports Network for live coverage of the game.
What Do You Think?
If this is the lineup they go with in Tokyo what do you think? Here’s what fans are saying:
- Pros: Power and speed with Tucker, Suzuki and Swanson
- Cons: Shaw batting 5th? No Hoerner at 2nd?
Overall it’s fine but we’ll see when it matters.
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