Chicago Cubs Lineup (8/29/22): Assad Starting, Madrigal Leading Off, Suzuki Batting Cleanup

The Chicago Cubs are very close to finishing August with their first .500 or better record over an entire month since May 2021. You remember, right? The core was still intact and hope was abundant. Of course, an 11-game losing streak that started in June and extended into July, quickly extinguished all of that hope and led to an epic sell-off. And here we are.

Javier Assad was very good in his first MLB outing last week against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing no runs in four innings pitched. The hope is that if he comes out as strong as he did in that first outing he’ll get to stay in beyond four innings. It would be good to get an extended look at Assad over six-plus innings if he can last that long.

Nick Madrigal has found his new home atop the lineup, he’s playing second base tonight. Willson Contreras is catching, Ian Happ is in left, Seiya Suzuki is in right and Franmil Reyes is DH. Nico Hoerner is at short, Rafael Ortega is in center, Alfonso Rivas is at first, and Christopher Morel is at third.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:07pm CT tonight from Toronto, Ontario.

Here is tonight's #Cubs starting lineup in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/AtC5J9N0bt

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 29, 2022