Chicago Cubs: Predicting how the postseason roster will shake out

Chicago Cubs: September could help round things out

Jesse Chavez, Brandon Kintzler, James Norwood, Alec Mills, Luke Farrell, or possibly even Dillon Maples, would be the next set of options to add depending on September performance, but they’re all right-handed and you know Joe will want at least three lefties in the pen come October. If Joe decides, based on matchups in the NLDS, he could go with only two lefties out of the pen, it is possible Jesse Chavez could get the last bullpen spot, as he has been nothing short of a godsend for the Cubs since being acquired from the Texas Rangers.

Ultimately, if everyone (stays) and gets healthy, you’re looking at a Game 1 starting lineup (if a righty throws) of Contreras, Rizzo, Murphy, Baez, Bryant, Schwarber, Heyward and Zobrist with either Lester or Hamels (I know, sacrilege!!!! But, have you seen his last six starts?) on the mound.

That would leave you Almora and Russell as late innings defensive replacements, as well as Happ, Bote, LaStella and Caratini off the bench however Joe wants to deploy them. Against a lefty, it’s very possible you could see Schwarber, Heyward, or even Murphy sit to get as many right-handed hitters in the lineup. (Not to mention, Almora kills lefties to a .336/.381/.467 clip and is the best center-fielder we have, so that will definitely happen).

Going with the aforementioned four-man rotation, that would leave you Strop, Cishek, Edwards, Morrow, Montgomery, Wilson, and my best guess at this time is Smyly over lefties De La Rosa/Rosario/Duensing and right-hander Chavez.