Cubs lineup in flux this weekend vs. Cards
The struggling Chicago Cubs open a big four-game series on Friday (in three days) with the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals.
Despite being just 3.5 games back behind St. Louis, Chicago needs some momentum heading into the break following a fluke injury to pitcher Ryan Dempster that will keep him out a month. And no one expected this team to be at .500 through 82 games.
Well, the Chicago lineup will look a little different this weekend.
The first move is that Manager Lou Piniella said he will be moving Alfonso Soriano into the No. 5 spot in the order. Piniella recently moved Soriano from leadoff to the No. 6 hole, but that hasn’t helped snap Soriano out of a slump that is approaching 45 games.
Then there is catcher Geovany Soto, last year’s NL Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in 2008. He had started to turn it around a bit after a season-long slump of his own, but then injury struck. He was hurt in batting practice before Wednesday’s game and was scratched. An MRI showed some minor damage in the lower left oblique, but the Cubs aren’t expected to make a decision on his status until after this weekend – but he will not play against the Cardinals.
That means light-hitting Koyie Hill will have to play all weekend, including that doubleheader on Sunday. He is hitting .240 with two homers and eight RBIs this season and as a career average around the Mendoza Line. Jake Fox will serve as the backup catcher for the four-game series, but he’s really an outfielder.
The Cubs will opt to play a man short this weekend to get to the All-Star break and see if Soto’s condition improves before the start of the second half Thursday in Washington.
St. Louis has struggled at Wrigley Field. The Cardinals dropped two of three at Wrigley in April and are just 8-18 on Chicago’s North Side since 2006.
Chris Carpenter faces Rich Harden in the series opener on Friday, with the Cards opening as -126 money line favorite on WagerWeb.com.
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