Cubs Lineup (4/5/25): Going for the Series Win at Wrigley

CUBS LINEUP — Last season, the Chicago Cubs dropped the first two games of the year, before bouncing back with a five-game winning streak that peaked on April 5. This season, the Cubs dropped the first two games of the year … and have a chance at a five-game winning streak here on April 5. Win or lose today, let’s hope the rest of the season goes better than it did in 2024.

Matthew Boyd is on the mound for the Cubs and here’s a look at the Cubs lineup Craig Counsell has set up behind him.

Ian Happ, LF
Kyle Tucker, RF
Seiya Suzuki, DH
Michael Busch, 1B
Dansby Swanson, SS
Nico Hoerner, 2B
Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
Matt Shaw, 3B
Carson Kelly, C

It’s a pretty typical Cubs lineup again today, with only Carson Kelly sliding in for Miguel Amaya, as the two continue sharing duties behind the plate.

I did think there was an outside shot of Justin Turner sneaking in there against Nick Pivetta given the good (albeit limited) history between them: 5-8, two 2Bs, 2 HRs, 1BB, 0K … as well as the fact that Pivetta has been much tougher on lefties (like Busch) than righties (like Turner) throughout his career. But nope. And that’s okay. Busch is and should get as many starts as possible this year. And Turner has been solid off the bench.

Chicago Cubs: Matthew Boyd, LHP

Matthew Boyd’s first start in a Cubs uniform went well.

In Arizona, the Cubs lefty held the Diamondbacks scoreless over 5.0 innings allowing just four hits while striking out five. He did walk three batters (what is with the Cubs pitchers this year?), but there was barely any hard contact at all. The only moderate concern was the large volume of fly balls, but the wind is supposed to be blowing in at Wrigley Field again today, so maybe that’ll play.

Only two padres players have more than 10 ABs vs Boyd in his career, and neither was particularly successful:

Xander Bogaerts: 2-12, HR, 2K
Martin Maldonado: 2-12, 2B, 3K

Manny Machado is 3-7 with two doubles and two strikeouts.

San Diego Padres: Nick Pivetta, RHP

Nick Pivetta had a strange offseason. After a mediocre 2024 campaign in terms of results (4.14 ERA) but with far better peripherals (3.51 xERA), Pivetta questionably received and even more questionably declined a $21.05M qualifying offer from the Red Sox. And for a long time, it looked like a huge mistake. But somehow, late in the offseason, the Padres found some coins in the cushion and handed Pivetta a four-year, $55M deal. But even that is a little misleading.

Pivetta will get only $4M this season ($3M signing bonus, $1M salary), with salaries of $19M, $14M, and $18M in the three years to follow. He also has opt-outs after years two and three, but one of those can turn into a club option. It really is a creative deal and you can read more about it right here.

In any case, Pivetta’s first start with his new team was a VERY good one: 7.0 IP, 1H, 0ER, 0BB, 4Ks against the Braves.

Atlanta may be struggling, but that is the exact type of performance Pivetta’s peripherals suggest he’s capable of.

Note: Although Pivetta is a righty, fellow righty batters have hit him better throughout his career, and the splits were even more pronounced last season:

vsLHH: .188/.249/.361 (.265 wOBA)

vsRHH: .271/.304/.510 (.345 wOBA)

Dansby Swanson has by far the most experience against Pivetta, going 8-30 with a double, a homer, one walk, and ten strikeouts.

But Justin Turner has had the most success 5-8, two 2Bs, 2 HRs, 1BB, 0K.

Chicago Cubs (6-4) vs San Diego Padres (7-1) at 1:20 pm CT – Marquee Sports Network, 670 The Score, WRTO 1200