The Chicago Cubs are shaking up their lineup for the series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, inserting newly claimed infielder Gabriel Arias for his first start in a Cubs uniform as the team looks to bounce back from late-inning bullpen struggles.
The Chicago Cubs find themselves navigating a turbulent stretch late in the calendar, dealing with a bullpen problem that saw them fall on the wrong end of a walk-off for the third time in the last four games. Daniel Palencia came in and looked all out of sorts before Jacob Webb forked over the Diamondbacks’ game-winning homer. Manager Craig Counsell looks to veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd on the mound to start the rubber match at Chase Field, hoping to eat up crucial innings and keep the taxed bullpen from entering too early. Game Info Who: Chicago Cubs (76-57) vs Arizona Diamondbacks (70-63) Where: Chase Field – Phoenix, AZ When: 2:40 PM CT Watch: Marquee Sports Network Listen: 104.3 The Score.
Gabriel Arias Makes His First Cubs Start Against Eduardo Rodriguez
Taylor Over Happ, Arias' First Start, Big Boyd Game
With a left-hander on the mound for Arizona, the Cubs are altering their typical defensive alignment. Gabriel Arias, recently claimed off waivers from the New York Mets, is drawing his first start in a Cubs uniform. He did get a chance to make his debut in the Cubs’ 19-2 win over the Mariners, where he recorded 2 RBIs and a run of his own.
Deploying Arias against such a strong lefty presents an interesting tactical choice. He’s really struggled against them this season with a .133 batting average in 45 at-bats. The 26-year-old has typically been a lot better against righties. At the same time, the defense is why the Cubs scooped him up. He will be able to suit up at second, allowing Nico Hoerner to stay at shortstop and Pedro Ramírez to move to third. This gives Alex Bregman a day off in the field, though he will remain third in the order.
Lineup Adjustments and the Battle Against Eduardo Rodriguez
Beyond the infield shuffle, Tyrone Taylor will get the start for Ian Happ in left field and bat ahead of Pedro Ramírez at sixth in the order. Carson Kelly is also re-entering the lineup after sitting on Tuesday and having a homer in the series opener. Most notably is the addition of Gabriel Arias. They face a formidable challenge in Eduardo Rodriguez, who in a shocking turn of events has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. He has been a weak-contact machine, recording a 2.61 ERA and a 13-4 start despite having a K rate that ranks in just the 13th percentile. He leans heavily on his low-90s four-seamer and some nasty breaking balls.
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On the other side, Boyd aims to stabilize his recent outings after the last few outings have not been kind to Matthew Boyd. He has given up at least 4 earned runs in three of his previous four starts, which included a 7-run outburst against the Cardinals on August 15. The home run ball has been the primary problem, making command paramount against an Arizona lineup featuring Ildemaro Vargas, Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo, Nolan Arenado, Tim Tawa, Jose Fernandez, James McCann, Jordan Lawlar, and Ryan Waldschmidt.
Offensive Consistency and Roster Building Trade Talks
While the pitching staff navigates high-wire performances, the Cubs’ offense continues to search for a sustainable middle ground between explosive scoring nights and quiet outings. Trade talk has also circulated around potential starting pitcher trade targets that Jed Hoyer and the rest of the front office should go after, including discussions involving Tarik Skubal and Seattle pitchers.
Away from the diamond, the organization’s impact extends into the community. A few hours after a Friday afternoon game at Wrigley in late June, the Catalina Club was packed with Cubs players and members of the organization, there to support the joint effort of teammates Matt Boyd and Ian Happ in the fight against child trafficking. As the Cubs push through the final stretch of the season, balancing on-field adjustments like the integration of Arias with clubhouse leadership will dictate whether Chicago can secure its footing.
