Chicago Cubs Lineup (3/22/25): Starters Return to Action, Taillon Starting
The Cubs have been back in Mesa for a couple days now, so it’s time for the regulars to shake off their jet lag and get back into a routine. Yesterday’s lineup featured backups and prospects, with the notable exception of Nico Hoerner starting at second base. Barring any hiccups, Hoerner should be good to go by the time the season starts up again after getting 20 or so at-bats in minor league games while his teammates experienced Tokyo.
Jameson Taillon was in Japan, though he was not on the active roster in order to accommodate more bullpen depth. He was able to pitch in the Cubs’ exhibition against the Yomiuri Giants, going 4.1 innings on 69 pitches (niiiice) with one run allowed on four hits and two walks. He struck out four as well, showcasing a sweeper that generated a 75% whiff rate on 15 pitches.
It might be worth noting that Taillon’s velocity was down a little on all his pitches, more than a full tick on the changeup and about 0.6 mph on the others. That’s not particularly important in a vacuum, but there has been some concern about Ben Brown‘s velo also being down a bit in his appearance. This is more than likely due to a combination of factors, with environment and equipment standing out.
What I’m saying is that there’s no cause for alarm until and unless the results give us reason to raise it. Taillon is facing a Rockies split squad this afternoon, so it’s unlikely we’ll see a stinker from him.
As long as Taillon is decent, having a regular lineup behind him should be enough to get a spring W. Ian Happ is in left, Seiya Suzuki is the DH, and Kyle Tucker is in right. Michael Busch is at first, Matt Shaw is at third, Dansby Swanson is at short, and Pete Crow-Armstrong patrols center. Carson Kelly is behind the plate and Jon Berti is at second as Hoerner gets a day off.
They’re up against Austin Gomber, whose name alone conjures images of a big ol’ dude who goes about 6-foot-5 and well over two bills. The lefty was part of the fleecing the Rockies willingly took in the Nolan Arenado trade four years ago and he’s been relatively serviceable in the thin mountain air.
A soft-tosser whose fastball barely breaks 90 mph, Gomber doesn’t miss bats and gives up a ton of hard contact. His 1.59 HR/9 since joining the Rox ranks eighth-highest among all qualified pitchers in that time and his 1.64 mark last year was second-highest. His -14 fastball run value in 2024 put him in the third percentile among MLB pitchers according to Statcast.
Gomber’s best characteristic is that he’s a strike-thrower who doesn’t hurt himself with walks and his best weapon is a changeup that has a lot more ride than other offspeed pitches. Not that it’s helped much to this point, but it could really stand out if he’s able to figure something out with the fastball.
First pitch from Sloan is at 3:05pm CT on 670 The Score, but Marquee is apparently not carrying this home game. Wasn’t that the whole point of the Cubs getting their own network? I’ll be there on the berm, just might be a little late due to a little ink therapy in the morning.
