Chicago Cubs Lineup (7/24/22): Morel Leads Off in CF, Hoerner Bats Second, Smyly Pitching for Sweep

The Cubs are going for their fourth win in a row and could complete a sweep of the Phillies as they play a very early game Sunday. I know a lot of folks are not happy about the broadcast, but I’m a big fan of having the game done early and moving on to other things.

While the offense has exploded at points in the first two games, excellent pitching would have carried the Cubs either way. Drew Smyly will try to keep that trend rolling as he takes the bump for what could be his last time with this team. This is only his third start back from an oblique injury and he looked much better in the most recent outing, putting up mid-90’s velocity and locating well over 4.1 innings.

Going for the Phils is 25-year-old lefty Bailey Falter, who sounds like exactly what his team has done most of the season. This will be his sixth start and 10th total appearance at the MLB level this season and he appears to be finding a groove even if his starts are typically limited in duration.

Falter is pitching to huge reverse splits thus far, allowing left-handed batters to hit for a .367 average with a .961 OPS and ,407 wOBA. Righties aren’t actually that far behind on the power side because he’s faced so many more of them and they’ve tagged him for five of the six homers he’s allowed.

He’ll through his 91 mph fastball about 60% of the time to set up a slider, curve, and change, but none of those pitches are really working for him this season. If the Cubs are able to keep hitting the ball hard and getting in the air, there’s no reason to believe they can’t win this game.

Everything starts with Christopher Morel in center, then it’s Nico Hoerner at short and Patrick Wisdom at third. Seiya Suzuki cleans up in right, Ian Happ is the DH, Frank Schwindel is at first, and Yan Gomes is the catcher. David Bote is at second and Nelson Velázquez man’s left field.

First pitch from Philly is at 11:05am CT on 670 The Score and streaming exclusively on Peacock.

Back to top button