Cubs Lineup (4/18/25): Corbin Burnes Comes to Wrigley Field

CUBS LINEUP — Today is arguably one of the worst pitching matchups for the Cubs of the year, with Corbin Burnes and the Diamondbacks set to take on Colin Rea and the following Cubs lineup.

Ian Happ, LF
Kyle Tucker, RF
Seiya Suzuki, DH
Michael Busch, 1B
Dansby Swanson, SS
Nico Hoerner, 2B
Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
Carson Kelly, C
Vidal Brujan, 3B

Although Miguel Amaya has actually hit pretty well this season, Carson Kelly remains scorching hot (on base five times with two homers in his last three starts). So he’s the man behind the plate for the series opener at Wrigley Field.

I would be a little surprised, as Amaya has far better numbers vs right-handed pitching than Kelly, but it’s Corbin Burnes … I’m not sure those splits matter all that much. Plus, there are two more D-Backs righties coming tomorrow and Sunday. And, like I said, Kelly has looked great offensively. So no real concerns here, just noting the decision.

The other notable choice for today’s Cubs lineup is Vidal Brujan getting his first start of the season at third base – a position vacated by the demoted Matt Shaw and so far filled by Gage Workman, Jon Berti, and now Brujan.

Brujan was on the Injured List to start the season, but came up for Shaw and is immediately in the lineup, batting ninth. The 27-year-old utility man has never hit in the big leagues and is particularly rough versus right-handed pitching (47 wRC+). So you can expect him to go 3-4 with a double and 4 RBI today.

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Separately, I’ll note that Ketel Marte (hamstring) is likely to miss this entire series. And that’s a great thing. The last time he faced the Cubs, he had a hit in each of the four games (six total), including two for extra bases, and three walks. He was a pain.

Corbin Carroll, RF
Geraldo Perdomo, SS
Pavin Smith, DH
Josh Naylor, 1B
Lourdes Gurriel Jr., LF
Eugenio Suarez, 3B
Gabriel Moreno, C
Jake McCarthy, CF
Garrett Hampson, 2B

Chicago Cubs: Colin Rea, RHP

Although I haven’t given much love to Colin Rea, he actually has had a pretty nice start to the season. Over four appearances, including one emergency start, Rea has allowed just 1 earned run on nine hits and one walk against seven strikeouts. Not bad. And that fill-in start was pretty good for such short notice: 3.2 IP, 4H, 1ER, 1B, 5K. Doing something like that again today, especially with Jordan Wicks available to piggyback, would be just swell … though we’re all hoping for more.

For what it’s worth, the Diamondbacks have been the single best offense against right-handed pitching so far this season (138 wRC+), so we might have to cut him a bit of a break if it doesn’t go well.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Burnes, RHP

Corbin Burnes has gotten off to a modest start so far this season, with just one quality start in three outings, and it was the bare minimum: 6.0 IP, 4H, 3ER, 2BB, 3K. Notably, he has walked nine batters, which is almost double his career walk rate. So maybe a little patience will serve the Cubs well? That has been one of their calling cards this year (10.6 BB%, 4th in MLB).