Chicago Cubs Lineup – NLCS Game 4: Lackey on the Hill Against Yet Another Dodger Lefty

This is the singular moment the Cubs acquired John Lackey for – a big game deep in the playoffs. If John Lackey has been waiting for the ‘big boy games,’ he need look no further than his start tonight at Chavez Ravine against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Here’s a steely veteran going up against a 20-year old rookie in Julio Urias. It’s certainly an interesting feel and quite an intriguing story-line too.

The Cubs are not, in spite of what some are saying over yonder in the social media world, in a must-win situation tonight. They most certainly are in a ‘win or things are going to be incredibly difficult’ game. The team that wins this series and advances to the World Series ‘must win’ four games. No team is on the verge of doing that, and so we proceed.

Joe Maddon changed up the lineup a bit last night, opting to bat Ben Zobrist third – which I didn’t like, moving Javier Baez up to the four spot – which I did like, and playing Jorge Soler – another move I wasn’t crazy about but can more easily understand.

Tonight’s lineup has Zobrist back in left field and back to batting 4th – much better. Jason Hayward is back in right and Willson Contreras is behind the plate catching for Lackey.

Here’s the rest of tonight’s Chicago Cubs lineup: