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The Nationals announced early Thursday afternoon that Gio Gonzalez would be their Game 5 starter.
That has led Joe Maddon to post this Game 5 lineup:
Here is tonight's #Cubs starting lineup.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 12, 2017
NLDS Game 5 preview: https://t.co/laC2P5VspB #FlyTheW pic.twitter.com/xgAyxcoe3A
Well, you know Joe, playing hunches. This is a different lineup than the one Joe put on the field for Game 2 against Gio, when he had Albert Almora Jr. leading off in center field, but Ian Happ in left and Ben Zobrist in right. With Jon Jay in left, Almora in center and Jason Heyward in right, Maddon has his best defensive lineup on the field behind Kyle Hendricks.
One more note about Gonzalez starting this game:
Five years ago today, Gio Gonzalez started Game 5 of the NLDS against a team from the NL Central.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) October 12, 2017
That was Game 5 of the 2012 NLDS between the Nationals and Cardinals. In that game, Gonzalez threw five innings and allowed five hits, four walks and three runs. Meanwhile, the Nats took a 6-0 lead, and had a 7-5 lead with two out in the ninth, and twice were within one strike of winning.
They lost. Here’s to a Nats loss, and a Cubs win, tonight.