Chicago Cubs Lineup (3/1/25, SS Game 2): Triantos Leads Off, Mo Baller Catching, Brown Starting

This is going to be a very brief lineup post because the game doesn’t have any TV coverage at all with only the Royals’ radio team has the call. Not really worth breaking down much about a spring game no one can see. That’s too bad because Ben Brown is getting the start and it’s a pretty fun group working behind him. The big righty flashed excellent stuff in his first outing since being shut down last year with a benign mass in his neck, though giving up a homer marred his results.

I maintain he’s a better fit for the rotation than their other options for that fifth (or maybe sixth) starting spot, but Brown should have an impact no matter what role he’s given. The same could be true for a number of position players in this one, starting with James Triantos as the leadoff batter and second baseman. Bringing in multiple veteran infielders means Triantos won’t break camp with the big club no matter how good he looks, but a promotion during the season is very much in play.

Michael Busch is at first, Pete Crow-Armstrong is in center, and Ben Cowles is the DH. Nicky Lopez continues to get a very long look at short and Moises Ballesteros will have a shot to show off his catching chops. Travis Jankowski is in left, Gage Workman is at third, and Parker Chavers patrols right field. Workman has a real shot to serve as Matt Shaw‘s replacement depending on how quickly the would-be starter is able to ramp up.

Shaw was at a full go in live BP on the back fields Saturday and has declared himself fully healthy, so he’s expected to make his first Cactus League appearance on Sunday.

Going for the Royals in this evening affair is Cole Ragans, yet another in the long list of lefty starters the Cubs have faced this spring. The 27-year-old has developed into a very good pitcher with the help of Tread Athletics, jumping from 92 mph as a rookie to sitting 95-96 and touching triple digits. His heater gets a ton of ride with significant arm-side run, and it’s made even better by an 85 mph changeup that also boasts extreme carry.

That combination is lethal when both pitches are working, which they usually are. The slider and cutter aren’t nearly as effective, though his knuckle curve got good results in limited usage. The other breaking balls have little to no horizontal separation, which I’d guess he may have worked on over the winter. . If Ragans is able to differentiate the shapes just a little further, he’s a legit Cy Young contender.

First pitch in this one is at 7:05pm CT, and you can probably find it on MLB Audio if you’re so inclined.