[CBeisbol]

Game #1 Dodgers at Cubs

Today's starting pitchers are Mark Langston (L) (15-7, 248 ERA+, 68 FIP-) and Greg Swindell (L) (13-7, 143 ERA+, 82 FIP-)

We go with our regular lineup with a slight twist.
LF Rickey Henderson – OBP, Power, Speed.
C Mike Piazza – Another pretty complete hitter. Makes contact, Power. Does hit into double plays.
SS Jon Valentin – Maybe our best hitter this season. We stack our best hitters at the top of the order.
1B Cory Snyder – 139 wRC+ as a Dodger, crushes lefties. Better at 1B than RF
RF Billy Ashley – Looking for a 1B. We think Ashley can have success vs Swindell who pitches to contact.
3B Gary Gaetti – Much better vs lefties than righties.
CF Devon White – Much better vs righties than lefties.
P Mark Langston – hitting 8th so a better 9 hitter in front of Rickey and Piazza
2B Scott Fletcher – we go Fletcher over Offerman to get his glove in the lineup.

We hit Ashley 5th instead of Gaetti expecting that we'll face a right-handed reliever late in the game, and we will pinch hit Bean, Donnels or Fletcher here in a big spot. Having the left-handed hitter 5th instead of 6th breaks up the lineup so it's not right-handed batters 1 through 6.

NOTE: Cubs C Jim Leyritz is serving the final game of his suspension resulting from a brawl after a Pedro Martinez hit by pitch.

Let's do it.