{"id":624146,"date":"2026-03-14T22:32:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T22:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/624146\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T22:32:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T22:32:44","slug":"kelly-at-1b-long-dh-brown-on-bump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/624146\/","title":{"rendered":"Kelly at 1B, Long DH, Brown on Bump –"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cubs are back in action on Saturday for another road game as they look to creep closer to .500 after dropping one to the White Sox<\/a> yesterday. There weren\u2019t many regulars in that one, and even Craig Counsell<\/a> was absent because he was in Green Bay to watch his daughter Rowan\u2019s Whitefish Bay High School basketball team punch their ticket to the Division 2 state finals. Today is a different story, as a host of familiar faces litter the lineup.<\/p>\n

Nico Hoerner<\/a> is at second, Matt Shaw<\/a> is back at third, Ian Happ<\/a> is in left, and Carson Kelly<\/a> is at first. Dylan Carlson<\/a> patrols center, Mois\u00e9s Ballesteros<\/a> handles the catching, Kevin Alc\u00e1ntara<\/a> is in right, and Jonathon Long<\/a> is back in action as the DH. Jefferson Rojas<\/a> bats ninth at short.<\/p>\n

We have now seen two of the Cubs\u2019 three main catchers get time at first, and Miguel Amaya<\/a> has been working there in camp as well. Shaw made the start there on Wednesday, so it\u2019s looking like Counsell will indeed go with a backup by committee when Michael Busch<\/a> is out of the lineup.<\/p>\n

This will be Ben Brown<\/a>\u2018s third start and fourth overall appearance of the spring, the last of which was nothing short of disastrous. Though giving up three runs on as many hits might not be considered awful in the context of an exhibition, walking three and hitting two more fell well shy of acceptable. Brown did get three strikeouts for the third time, so at least he\u2019s still missing bats.<\/p>\n

As I\u2019ve noted more than I probably should have at this point, I really wish I could watch these games to see how his changeup and sinker are developing. As frustrated as I am by how Marquee\u2019s reduced coverage feels like a broken promise and a slap in fans\u2019 faces, I\u2019m more vexed by not being able to see what changes players are making. It\u2019s one thing to read about a new pitch grip or different swing mechanics, but quite another to see it live.<\/p>\n

Oh well.<\/p>\n

Opposing the Cubs is Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland<\/a>, who is entering his 10th season with the organization. He currently sits fourth all-time in team history with 65 wins, but he\u2019s got a stranglehold on the top spot with 90 losses. Another typical season should see Freeland get to a career mark of 70-100 or worse, though it\u2019s not really his fault. The southpaw hasn\u2019t been great by any stretch, but his team has just been terrible for most of his tenure.<\/p>\n

And while the Coors Effect has played a role in Freeland\u2019s middling numbers, his strike and walk rates have been better at home. The problem is that he just doesn\u2019t have the stuff to put many batters away, so he ends up allowing a whole lot of hard contact. His 92 mph fastball fills up the heart of the zone, as do his cutter, sweeper, and sinker. His seldom-used changeup tends to hang a little as well, leaving the knuckle curve as his only consistently effective pitch.<\/p>\n

Freeland hasn\u2019t been particularly durable and hasn\u2019t reached 175 innings since 2018, but that\u2019s not particularly uncommon in today\u2019s game. At the end of the day, he\u2019s a known commodity for a team that has a very tough time luring free agent pitchers. There are worse fates in life than to earn $13 million a year to live in Denver, so I can\u2019t feel all that bad for him.<\/p>\n

First pitch is at 3:10pm CT on 104.3 The Score.<\/p>\n

Lined up for the Rockies. pic.twitter.com\/vIi8ErTAaS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n