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SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- The Cubs are playing split-squad games today, both on the road, and with a bit of a twist: one is an afternoon contest, the other tonight.
ICYMI, on Saturday we will begin to see the Cubs' top four starters:
#Cubs pitching: Montgomery Fri, Hendricks Sat, Lester Sun, Arrieta Mon, Lackey Tues
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) March 1, 2017
John Lackey will be facing the WBC's Team Italy on Tuesday. Next Wednesday is a scheduled off day, then Brett Anderson will follow in the rotation.
This rotation also appears to be set up to have Jon Lester start on Opening Night in St. Louis, and so the rotation would go Lester/Arrieta/Lackey/Hendricks/Montgomery or Anderson. At least that's the way I see it from this order.
I'm not going to this game, but will be at tonight's game vs. the Diamondbacks at Talking Stick. Site note: There will be a recap posted of this game after it's over, then at 7 p.m. CT (one hour before the night game starts) there will be a preview post for the night game with lineups, etc. The usual comment threads will follow.
Here are today's particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Heyward RF, Bryant 3B, Zobrist 2B, Russell SS, Contreras C, Jay CF, Jimenez LF, Dominguez 1B, Happ DH
Most of the regulars are playing in this game, likely so many can play in tomorrow's afternoon game. Anthony Rizzo was scratched due to "back tightness." He's day-to-day, hopefully he can play Friday.
Reds lineup:
Hamilton CF, Peraza 2B, Votto 1B, Duvall LF, Raburn RF, Jennings DH, Iribarren 3B, Turner C, Alcantara SS
Yes, that's our old friend Arismendy Alcantara starting at shortstop for the Reds today.
Rob Zastryzny will start for the Cubs. Other pitchers scheduled for the Cubs: Gerardo Concepcion, Felix Pena, Pierce Johnson, Dylan Floro and Jose Rosario.
Amir Garrett gets the call for the Reds.
Today’s game is on cubs.com with Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie.
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter. If you do go there to interact with Reds fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
Please note that during spring training, Gameday doesn't usually go pitch-by-pitch as it does during the regular season -- usually, it will update after each at-bat.
For spring-training games, we'll have a first-pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time (because I know how you all like overflow threads!). For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.
These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher boxes and regular-season stats will return on Opening Night.
Discuss amongst yourselves.