Chicago Cubs Lineup (3/9/25): Another Regular Season Order, Taillon Tossing
Daylight Savings is dumb as hell. Can I get an amen from the congregation? I know you’re not all reading this at the same time and I couldn’t hear you even if you were, but I’m pretending it earned a rousing response. Almost as animated as if I’d ask you to support me in saying that having the toilet paper come over the top is the only way to do it and anyone who says down the back is most likely a sociopath. The Cubs know. Well, most of them.
The age old debate… ?
What is the correct way to put toilet paper on the roll? pic.twitter.com/ZGfhh9pgM9
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 7, 2025
Jameson Taillon seems like a nice guy, so I’m sure he orients his bathroom tissue the right way as well. As for his work on the mound, the jury is still out. This will be just his second spring start, the first of which lasted only two innings and saw him allow a homer with two strikeouts. Nothing alarming, mind you, especially if he was just doing a little more touch and feel with some offseason tweaks.
He will probably get some action in one of the Cubs’ exhibition games next week, or perhaps he’ll even work out of the bullpen. Given how little opportunity he’s had to get stretched out, using him in a game with no stakes seems to make more sense.
With their trip to Japan looming, Craig Counsell has another regular lineup out there. Ian Happ leads off as the DH, followed by Seiya Suzuki in left and Kyle Tucker in right. Michael Busch is at first, Justin Turner is at third, Dansby Swanson is the shortstop, and Pete Crow-Armstrong is in center. Carson Kelly catches and Jon Berti bats last at second base.
They’ll be facing 26-year-old Landen Roupp, who debuted with 50.1 innings last season spent mainly in a relief role before making four starts to end the season. He figures to be part of the rotation more regularly this season and is already making his fourth start of the spring. With just one hit allowed and 11 strikeouts to a single walk over 8.1 innings, the young man is showing he’s got the stuff to compete.
That stuff comes in a different package from what we typically see, as Roupp throws his curveball at 44% to lead the charge. It’s really more of a slurve, with huge sweep that sees it get far more induced horizontal break than average. His sinker runs more than most and gets a little more depth, making it a very effective complementary pitch. When you can go with a slurvy 77 mph breaker to a firm bowling ball at 94, you’ll find success more often than not.
Roupp’s problem last season came from either pressing or simply facing a higher caliber of hitters who could spit on uncompetitive pitches. After putting up massive strikeout numbers at every level of the minors since being drafted out of UNC Wilmington in 2021, Roupp K’d less than one batter per inning and walked too many batters. His saving grace was that propensity to keep the ball down to avoid barrels and balls in the air. If he can tighten up that bender, he could really be something.
First pitch from Sloan Park is at 3:05pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score. Wait, is that right? Both TV and radio coverage for this one? Wonders may never cease.
