Predicting the Chicago Cubs Opening Day lineup

The Chicago Cubs Opening Day lineup for the 2023 season should be far better than last year but what exactly will it look like against the Brewers?

Make no mistake, it’s been a tough couple of years for Chicago Cubs fans. Franchise heroes like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javier Baez were all traded away. This offseason, longtime catcher Willson Contreras also left, for the rival Cardinals no less. But now Opening Day is here and, despite the heartbreaks and losses piling up, there is optimism in the Windy City.

Though landing Dansby Swanson was perhaps the only star signing that the Cubs made, the roster is notably improved now with additions like Cody Bellinger, Trey Mancini and several other veterans. It’s going to be a tough task to compete in a quality NL Central, but this iteration of the Cubs has a better chance than last year’s club.

On Opening Day, the Cubs will host the Milwaukee Brewers with a pitching matchup of Marcus Stroman vs. Corbin Burnes. What will the Chicago Cubs Opening Day lineup look like to face one of baseball’s best pitchers, though? Let’s take a look at our predictions.

Predicting the Chicago Cubs Opening Day lineup for 2023

Here’s a look at what the Cubs Opening Day lineup could look like on Thursday at Wrigley Field against the Brewers.

1. Nico Hoerner, 2B
2. Dansby Swanson, SS
3. Ian Happ, LF
4. Trey Mancini, RF
5. Cody Bellinger, CF
6. Patrick Wisdom, 3B
7. Eric Hosmer, 1B
8. Edwin Rios, DH
9. Tucker Barnhart, C

You can really see how much the roster has improved looking at this and, frankly, it makes it a bit difficult to sort out some of the spots in the order.

Fresh off of his extension, it’s safe to say that Nico Hoerner will be in the leadoff spot. But what happens behind him is where things can get interesting. Given the money that they club paid Swanson this offseason, I have a hard time seeing him not hit in the No. 2 hole where he did with the Braves. Then I like the switch-hitting of Happ behind him followed by arguably the next two biggest power bats in Mancini and Bellinger. Honestly, the order of them in the lineup is interchangeable.

It’s hard to imagine Patrick Wisdom not getting the not at third base, despite career struggles (1-for-11) against Burnes to this point. But he’s such a key piece that I still see him in there on Opening Day, though No. 6 in the lineup might be ambitious and you could slot him eighth with Hosmer and Rios each bumping up a spot.

In any case, the Cubs Opening Day lineup should inspire some confidence that things are turning around in Wrigley. Now it’s all about producing as such on the diamond come Thursday and beyond.