"The big righty has been as good as ever in the early going, but we have to exercise the same caution with his results as we do those of Cade Horton in yesterday's rough outing. If nothing else, we know Rea can provide highly competent rotation depth."
"Jonathon Long won't be rostered just to play once in a while against lefties, so it makes sense to have at least two bench guys split backup duties. Shaw and Miguel Amaya, who was working at first before leaving to play for Panama in the WBC, are the clear top options because they're both right-handed and won't get enough ABs at one particular position."
"Amaya's absence has pushed him behind the plate for several games, but he's got a lot of work to do if he wants to catch regularly. This feels more like a way for the Cubs to keep him happy while they continue to view him as a DH in the long run."
The Cubs aim to recover from a previous loss with Colin Rea starting, a reliable pitcher providing solid rotation depth. The lineup features Nico Hoerner leading off, with Dansby Swanson at short, Ian Happ in left, and Michael Conforto in right. Matt Shaw plays first base while Carson Kelly catches. The team addresses backup first base duties with Shaw and Miguel Amaya as primary options, both right-handed hitters who can split responsibilities. Moisés Ballesteros, currently catching frequently due to Amaya's WBC absence, is viewed primarily as a designated hitter long-term. The Cubs face Mitch Spence as their opponent.
Read at Cubsinsider
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