Chicago Cubs Lineup (3/25/24): Opening Day Batting Order, Brown Starting Final Spring Game
The end of spring training is nigh and the Cubs are looking to close things out with their first win since returning from Japan. Their exhibition record is entirely inconsequential, but there have been concerns about the team’s overall physical and mental fitness following a whirlwind trip to Tokyo. There are also questions about how the roster will shake out or the domestic opener, with today’s starter finding himself at the center of the biggest one.
Ben Brown should be a member of the starting rotation and figures to get the ball when the Cubs visit Sacramento for their third of four openers this season. They “hosted” Opening Day in Japan, then will be the visitors for home openers against the Diamondbacks and A’s before returning to Chicago next week for their Wrigley Field debut. We know what Brown’s fastball and curve can do, so now it’s time for him to integrate the changeup a little more.
The lineup behind him is filled with regulars as the Cubs get their final tuneup before the games start to count…again. Ian Happ is in left, Kyle Tucker is in right, Seiya Suzuki is the DH, and Michael Busch is at first. Dansby Swanson is at short, Nico Hoerner is at second, Pete Crow-Armstrong is in center, and Matt Shaw is at third. Shaw had been batting higher in the order to make up for a late spring start, but now he’s a little lower until he proves himself. Miguel Amaya bats ninth as the catcher.
They’re facing José Suarez, who was just acquired from the Angels two days ago in exchange for Ian Anderson. At least the move from Tempe Diablo Stadium was a lot easier than it could have been since the Braves are in town from their regular spring training base in Florida. Suarez is a lefty swingman who has made 61 starts out of 99 total MLB appearances, but he’s started only once in six spring games and got shelled before departing with only two outs recorded.
He’s got kind of a weird mix given his three-quarter arm slot and gets less depth than I’ve ever seen from any pitcher. Only his slider and sweeper get any vertical break below the zero line in terms of induced movement, and that’s only on a portion of those offerings. They’re still effective, but the issue is that none of his other pitches seem to be. While his breaking ball run value (3) was in the 73rd percentile last year, his fastball (-12) and offspeed (-5) run values were near the bottom of the league.
Suarez generated a fair number of whiffs last year, which came with plenty of walks as well. And when batters did make contact, which was frequent, they squared him up really well. I’m not sure if this was just a challenge trade for the Braves or what, maybe they see something they think they can leverage. My first step as his pitching coach would be to ramp up the breaking stuff and just lean heavily into what works.
Here’s to hoping the Cubs jump all over him and can pour it on against what figures to be a barrage of relievers. First pitch from Sloan Park is 3:05pm CT on Marquee and MLB Network (out-of-market only).
Last one before the regular season!
Watch it live on the Marquee Sports Network App. pic.twitter.com/hOAaIshsH6
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 25, 2025
