Chicago Cubs lineup, batting order predictions after Eric Hosmer signing
By Josh Wilson
The Chicago Cubs added first basemen Eric Hosmer. Here’s how the lineup and batting order should look opening day.
The Chicago Cubs couldn’t convince Anthony Rizzo to come back to the Friendly Confines, and also couldn’t get Jose Abreu to take a ride up the Red Line to the north side of Chicago. Instead, they signed Eric Hosmer to take on first base after it looked like rookie Matt Mervis might have gotten the opening-day start.
With that, it creates a more solidified lineup and batting order. Here’s what we’re expecting.
Chicago Cubs opening day lineup prediction
- C: Yan Gomes
- 1B: Eric Hosmer
- 2B: Nico Hoerner
- SS: Dansby Swanson
- 3B: Patrick Wisdom
- LF: Ian Happ
- CF: Cody Bellinger
- RF: Seiya Suzuki
Chicago Cubs batting order prediction
- Nico Hoerner
- Dansby Swanson
- Ian Happ
- Seiya Suzuki
- Eric Hosmer
- Cody Bellinger
- Nick Madrigal
- Patrick Wisdom
- Yan Gomes
Christopher Morel will probably slide in and up and down the lineup throughout the season as the utility man to give everyone some rest days.
Nico Hoerner has the strongest OPS looking at last year’s stats, and was the lead-off last year. He’ll take the lead-off spot. Second-best is Dansby Swanson, so those two as a one-two to open games should hopefully give them a punch. Ian Happ had the best slugging percentage last year, and Suzuki the second-best, so they can bat some runs in at third and clean-up when Hoerner and Swanson get on base.
The rest of the lineup falls to form in terms of last year’s OBP with the exception of Bellinger. Hopefully, he can have a bounce-back year in Chicago and prove his worthy of the middle-of-the-lineup position throughout the year. He may not bat there opening day.
There’s also the possibility Tucker Barnhart takes over as the lead catcher instead of Yan Gomes at some point during the year.
It’s probably not the best lineup or batting order the Cubs could have gotten, but it shapes up well, with a pretty nice top of the batting order.
Next. 15 best free agents next winter and who should steal them. dark