Who Should Be On The Cubs' Wild-Card Game Roster?

Next Wednesday, the Cubs take the field, likely in Pittsburgh but still possibly at Wrigley Field, for their first postseason game in seven years.

This Tribune article says the Cubs are number-crunching and analyzing all possible scenarios before they decide on the roster they'll submit, which doesn't have to be completed until Wednesday:

"Every little thing matters," Hoyer said Thursday as the Cubs assess multiple factors before their NL play-in game against the Pirates on Wednesday night.

"That's the nature of the rosters. You have to assume that anyone on the roster (could) be in a huge spot because it (seems) like the game finds that person."

Along those lines, the Cubs added Quintin Berry on Sept. 1 as a pinch-running option. And manager Joe Maddon hasn't ruled out rookie reliever Carl Edwards Jr. despite his having only four games of major-league experience.

I'd think they would definitely take Berry, as a pinch-runner type like him can be very valuable in a postseason game. As I've noted before, this is exactly what the Royals did with Terrance Gore in last year's A.L. wild-card game and that proved to be very important for them.

This ESPN Chicago article tells how the team will likely split position players and pitchers:

The Cubs will take either 16 position players and nine pitchers or 15/10. In 2013 with the Rays, Joe Maddon took 16 position players -- that’s the most likely scenario for the Cubs. It means only one current position player would not make the roster as the Cubs have 17 non-pitchers in the dugout right now. The final cut could come down to Matt Szczur or Jonathan Herrera. Both have played sparingly down the stretch.

Here's my prediction for the roster. As noted above, the Cubs will likely leave three starting pitchers off the roster, and it would appear Jon Lester would be the most likely to be kept, in the unlikely event that something happens to Jake Arrieta (please, no!). Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Catchers (2)

Miguel Montero, David Ross

Infielders (6)

Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Tommy La Stella

Outfielders (7)

Chris Coghlan, Dexter Fowler, Jorge Soler, Austin Jackson, Kyle Schwarber, Quintin Berry, Chris Denorfia

Pitchers (10)

Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Justin Grimm, Clayton Richard, Travis Wood, Trevor Cahill, Tommy Hunter, Fernando Rodney