Chicago Cubs Lineup (3/27/25): Opening Day Take 2, Steele Starting Second Straight Game
I don’t know how much the Cubs got paid to serve as the sacrificial lamb home team against the heavily favored Dodgers in Japan. That’s not necessarily about the short-handed Dodgers still being better despite missing two former MVPs from the lineup, it’s just that the Japanese fans made it feel like the game may as well have been played at Chavez Ravine. Well, except for the fact that the place filled up early.
In any case, the Cubs now begin the rest of the season with the first of four games against another NL West opponent in Arizona. If it wasn’t bad enough that the Cubs seem to play poorly at Chase Field, the D-backs should still be very competitive after their surprise run to the World Series in 2023 and an 89-win season last year. They’ve got the power, they’ve got the speed, to be at least moderately competitive in the National League.
Justin Steele probably dealt with his share of snakes growing up in Lucedale, Mississippi, but these desert rattlers have given him a bit of trouble over five previous starts. Nothing too awful, but a 4.08 ERA with 26 hits in 28.2 innings doesn’t represent his best work. He does, however, boast 36 strikeouts to just eight walks with a .639 OPS against.
Steele struck out five Dodgers over four innings in Tokyo, which would have been solid had he not surrendered five earned runs with two homers. Of course, one of those dingers was the controversial shot from Shohei Ohtani that was clearly fan interference and somehow survived replay review anyway. Did you notice how MLB’s social media highlights conveniently omitted footage of the ball going over the wall?
Regardless, both Steele and the offense have to be better in this one. That starts with Ian Happ in left, Kyle Tucker in right, and Seiya Suzuki at DH. Michael Busch cleans up at first, Dansby Swanson is at short, and Nico Hoerner is at second. Pete Crow-Armstrong patrols center, Matt Shaw is at third, and Miguel Amaya is the catcher.
They’re up against former staff ace Zac Gallen, who gets the Opening Day nod with Corbin Burnes pushing all the way back to their next series. The 29-year-old righty has seen his performance slip a bit over the last two seasons, with his 2024 campaign hampered by a right hamstring strain that landed him on the IL for the first time in three years. The big problem for him last year was a fastball that flattened out a bit and went from 98th percentile run value to 15th as a result.
His cut-ride offering got less movement in both directions last season, making it easier for hitters to identify. His knuckle-curve was among the best in the game, though, so he was able to get by even when the heater was off. Those two pitches make up three-quarters of his repertoire, making him kind of an example for Ben Brown. Except Gallen only throws around 94-95 mph. He’s also got a very good changeup that Brown would do well to replicate.
This should be a very good matchup between to of the league’s better pitchers, and it may come down to which offense is able to take advantage of early mistakes. Or late mistakes given the start time. First pitch from Phoenix is at 9:10pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score.
