All articles tagged with #kevin alcantara
Kevin Alcantara starts for the Cubs against the Reds on his birthday, batting ninth as Dansby Swanson moves up to eighth in a lineup hoping to clinch the series before the All-Star break. Chicago counters with Matthew Boyd against left-hander Andrew Abbott, while Cincinnati lines up its own lefty matchup. The piece also covers lineup notes, injuries, and weather at Great American Ball Park ahead of the game.
The Chicago Cubs lineup for Game 1 vs the Oakland Athletics at Wrigley Field features Nico Hoerner at second, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center, Alex Bregman at third, Seiya Suzuki in right, Ian Happ in left, Carson Kelly catching, Michael Busch at first, Kevin Alcantara as the DH, and Dansby Swanson at short, with Alcantara earning another start as the Cubs try to get back on track. Jameson Taillon will start for the Cubs against a left-handed rookie starter for the A’s, Gage Jump, in a wind-blown matchup. The Cubs hope to improve in the series, particularly with Matt Shaw sidelined, as they aim to start winning games again against a weaker opponent.
The Cubs’ offense has been stuck in a funk at Wrigley Field, and manager Craig Counsell says lineup changes are coming. Top prospects Kevin Alcantara and Pedro Ramirez have recently been called up (with PCA, Pete Crow-Armstrong, possibly leading off in some lineups), and a day off for Ian Happ could be in play as part of the adjustments. While the shakeup aims to spark momentum, it’s unlikely to solve all issues immediately.
After a Sunday walk-off vs. the Pirates, the Cubs’ offense remains a concern as they head into a brutal April schedule (Phillies, Mets, Dodgers, Padres). Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is hitting .203/.242/.271, fueling talk of a PCA-Alcantara platoon, but many insist the idea is a knee-jerk overreaction. The piece argues the Cubs won’t platoon PCA, given his fresh extension and historic 30/30 season, and notes his value when he gets on base even as he’s adjusting, while pointing to other options like Michael Busch, Michael Conforto and Matt Shaw. It emphasizes avoiding disruption to PCA’s rhythm and using Sunday’s spark as momentum rather than a quick fix. }