The Cubs wrap up the 10-game homestand and series with the Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon with Jake Arrieta on the hill against lefty Patrick Corbin. And two of Joe Maddon’s left-handed bats are not in the starting lineup.
Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward are not starting Sunday. It appears to be just a breather for Rizzo and Heyward with Corbin starting the game.
Kris Bryant is starting at first base. Javier Baez is at third base with Matt Szczur in right and Miguel Montero is catching Jake Arrieta.
Cubs batting order: Dexter Fowler CF, Ben Zobrist 2B, Kris Bryant 1B, Jorge Soler LF, Javier Baez 3B, Addison Russell SS, Matt Szczur RF, Miguel Montero C, Jake Arrieta P
Right-handers have hit D-Backs’ lefty Patrick Corbin rather well this season. Corbin has allowed 11 home runs this year, 10 have been hit by righties. Right-handers have a .294/.344/.505 slash line with a .849 OPS while left-handers have managed a .235/.316/.353 line with a .669 OPS.
Corbin has given up a lot of hard contact this season. His road numbers are significantly better than what he’s done at home this year. Corbin has allowed 14 runs, 11 earned, on 32 hits with 12 walks and 29 strikeouts in 37 innings outside of Chase Field (2.68 ERA, 1.18 WHIP). Corbin has had a rough go in his home park in five starts. Corbin has allowed 26 runs, 25 earned, on 40 hits with nine walks and 18 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings (7.94 ERA, 1.72 WHIP).
Joe Maddon will begin the game with a bench of Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward, Tommy La Stella, David Ross and Tim Federowicz.