Chicago Cubs Lineup (3/24/25): Happ in CF, Turner at 3B, Keller Starting
The Cubs have only two spring games left, both against a Braves team that trekked all the way from their preseason base of CoolToday Park in North Port, FL. This little stopover helps them adjust to the time, and perhaps the change in climate, prior to facing the Padres in San Diego to open the season. Meanwhile, the Cubs are just trying to keep everyone warm after a Tokyo Series that continues to look like something of a trainwreck in terms of its timing.
On the hill for the home team is righty Brad Keller, who looks like one of the team’s primary long relievers after a strong showing early. His cutty four-seam has been up a little from its previous average of around 94 mph, which is good because his relatively short extension (6.1 feet, 21st percentile) means his stuff isn’t jumping on anyone under normal circumstances.
Keller hasn’t posted an ERA lower than 4.57 since the pandemic season, but his past experience as a starter means he’s well-suited to getting more than three outs in relief. Not having to save gas in the tank means he can cut it loose when he’s out there as well, and the fact that he’s on a minor-league deal means he’s a little more expendable should things not work out. That’s part of why Tyson Miller is being placed on the IL rather than just being cut loose, as we know Jed Hoyer prizes bullpen depth very highly.
We should see quite a bit of depth in this one, both on the mound and in the lineup. Ian Happ is leading off in center with Seiya Suzuki in right and Kyle Tucker at DH. Michael Busch is at first, Justin Turner is across the diamond at third, Dansby Swanson is at short, and Carson Kelly is behind the dish. Gage Workman bats eighth in left and Jon Berti rounds out the order at second.
They’re facing 24-year-old righty Spencer Schwellenbach, a hard thrower who fills up the zone with a six-pitch mix that appears to have been tailored perfectly for his low-three-quarter arm slot. His 96 mph four-seam is a little cutty, his slider gets a lot of depth, and his firm cutter gets sharp break with more ride than most. Schwellenbach’s curve likewise has less depth than those of his peers, but his splitter gets good movement across both planes and might be his best pitch. He rounds things out with a sinker that helps him get grounders at a solid rate.
The big issue for him last year was that he probably threw too many strikes over 21 rookie starts, with a paltry 4.6% walk rate that put him in the 95th percentile among MLB pitchers. But his strikeouts, grounders, and home runs allowed all moved decidedly in the wrong direction from what he’d done in the minors despite getting a lot of chase.
That’s largely a matter of leaving too many mistakes in very hittable locations, allowing batters to square balls up more regularly. He can be very good when he’s on and should get the chance to push deep into this game provided he’s pitching well. The funny thing is that even if he’s pitching at the top of his game, he’s still only the second-best Spencer in his own rotation.
First pitch is at 3:05pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score.
Here’s today’s lineup against the Braves.
Watch on the Marquee Sports Network app. pic.twitter.com/QmHYwXCax6
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 24, 2025
