For the first time this season, Luis Valbuena will bat in the leadoff spot Tuesday night as the Chicago Cubs try to win consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 9-10, 2013, at Cincinnati.
Valbuena will hit in place of Emilio Bonifacio against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Brandon McCarthy at Wrigley Field. Bonifacio has batted leadoff in 16 of the Cubs’ first 18 games, compiling a .407 on-base percentage.
Valbuena has a .404 on-base percentage despite batting .222 this season. Right-handed hitters Justin Ruggiano, Mike Olt and Junior Lake are getting rare starts against the right-handed McCarthy.
Only three current Cubs batters have faced McCarthy. Ryan Sweeney is the only player with more than three at-bats against McCarthy and is 3-for-12 lifetime against him.
Here’s the Cubs’ lineup:
Valbuena 2B
Ruggiano CF
Rizzo 1B
Schierholtz RF
Castro SS
Olt 3B
Lake LF
Baker C
Hammel P
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