Pregame Chatter: Cubs v. Giants Lineup, Candelario at it Again, Lackey Pitching – 3:05 CDT

It’s another bright, beautiful, sunny day in Arizona today; a wonderful day for a trip down to Sloan Park to watch the Cubs take on the Giants. John Lackey is in the lineup and on the mound for the Cubs today and he’s going up against Jeff Samardzija.

Man, it seems like so long ago when Jeff played for the Cubs. It was July 2014 when the Cubs traded Samardzija and Jason Hammel to Oakland in exchange for Addison Russell, Billy McKinney, Dan Strailey and a PTBNL (that turned into cash). So much has happened in less than two years. The Cubs went from cellar dwellers to World Series favorites and that trade played a big part. I love it when things work out.

Here’s the lineup today and you’ll notice that it, once again, features Jeimer Candelario. His extended playing time helps the Cubs in multiple ways too. It gives him time to continue to mesh with the guys on the major league team, it gives him more experience against better talent as rosters get trimmed and playing time gets extended, and it showcases his skills in the chance that the Cubs are willing to include him in a trade later in the season to bring in another elite-level starting pitcher (which I believe they should do).

John Lackey (R) vs. Giants – Jeff Samardzija (R)
1. Dexter Fowler (S) CF
2. Addison Russell (R) SS
3. Kyle Schwarber (L) LF
4. Jorge Soler (R) RF
5. Miguel Montero (L) C
6. Jeimer Candelario (S) 3B
7. Munenori Kawasaki (L) 2B
8. Jesus Guzman (R) 1B
9. John Lackey (R) P