Chicago Cubs Lineup (9/2/22): Sampson Pitching, Madrigal Leading Off, Happ Batting Cleanup

The Chicago Cubs open up a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals today at Busch Stadium (check out the series preview here). The last time the Cubs faced tonight’s starter for the Cardinals, Jordan Montgomery, back on August 22 they witnessed a pitching masterpiece. Montgomery threw a complete-game one-hit shutout.

The Cubs will counter tonight with Adrian Sampson on the hill. Sampson continues to be very good for the Cubs this season with a 3.97 ERA. He had his worst outing of the year against the Cardinals on August 23, when he gave up five earned runs over just 3.1 innings.

Sampson rebounded from that dismal outing quite nicely in his most recent outing against the Brewers on August 28. He gave up just one earned run on five hits but was pulled after just 3.1 innings by Manager David Ross, who needed to pitch Sampson less than four innings to be able to take advantage of a loophole allowing the Cubs to bring an extra player to Toronto.

That’s a long way of saying that if Sampson is pitching well tonight you can expect his skipper to leave him in the game and roll with him. That’s particularly important given just how bad the Cubs bullpen has been recently. The Cubs relievers have a combined 5.98 ERA since August 14, that’s the fourth worst in MLB over that time frame.

Nick Madrigal leads off playing second tonight, Seiya Suzuki is in right, Franmil Reyes is DH, Ian Happ is in left, and Nico Hoerner is playing short. Nelson Velazquez is in center, P.J. Higgins is at first, Yan Gomes is catching, and Christopher Morel is playing third

First pitch tonight is scheduled for 7:15pm CT from boring ole St. Louis.

Here is tonight's #Cubs starting lineup in St. Louis. pic.twitter.com/3igGjW9Fsz

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 2, 2022