Chicago Cubs Lineup (3/1/23): Hoerner Leads Off, Bellinger Returns, Wesneski Starting

The Cubs haven’t won since their Cactus League opener, not that the results of these early games matter in the least. No spring scores actually matter, but it’s even less consequential when the lineups look like a mix of linemen and wide receivers. We can, however, take a little away from the starting pitchers and some of the relievers.

Hayden Wesneski will take the bump Wednesday afternoon as he builds a case to break camp as a member of the starting rotation. He looked great when he came up at the end of last season, spinning sharp breaking stuff to go with a bulldog mentality and just the right level of cockiness to show that he knows how good he is without crossing the line into abrasiveness.

Also scheduled to appear in this one are Roenis Elías, Brendon Little, Vinny Nittoli, Manny Rodríguez, and Michael Rucker.

Backing the pitching staff will be a semi-regular lineup that features Nico Hoerner at second and Dansby Swanson at short, a top-of-the-order combo we’ve seen a few times already. Ian Happ bats third in left and Cody Bellinger is back in center after missing a little time with an illness, then it’s Trey Mancini at first base and Edwin Ríos at third. Yan Gomes is the catcher, Nelson Velázquez tries to earn more time in right after a homer yesterday, and Christopher Morel bats ninth as the DH.

First pitch from Sloan Park is at 2:05pm CT on Marquee Sports Network.

👋 March!

Here is today's #Cubs starting lineup at @SloanParkMesa. pic.twitter.com/hjCM5Rdr2T

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 1, 2023