Chicago Cubs Lineup (6/7/26): PCA Leads Off, Mo Baller Bats Second, Taillon Tossing
I’m still taking a brief hiatus from in-depth matchup analysis because it’s been a really busy weekend and I’d rather replenish my energy stores so that I can be better for you all moving forward. The alternative would be to half-ass everything, which many think I do all the time anyway, but I’d rather not take that route. Besides, summer weekends always get a little taxing for me with the travel ball schedule running strong.
To that end, we found out very quickly over the last few days just how important it is to have an experienced catcher. You’d think that would go without saying, but it’s rare that you have to see it in action. Due to conflicts with the high school postseason, our No. 1 catcher was unable to participate with his travel team. As such, three others were pressed into emergency duty with varying degrees of success and/or disaster.
Speaking of varying degrees of disaster, Jameson Taillon is on the mound today. After giving up 16 runs over three starts, he gave up just two and took a loss anyway. The righty has given up an MLB-high 20 home runs and has managed to hold his opponents without a big fly in just two of 10 starts so far. Not a great sign when the weather is just now starting to heat up.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, the NL’s best player, is leading off in center after last night’s heroics. Moisés Ballesteros bats second as the DH, Michael Busch is at first, Alex Bregman is at third, and Ian Happ is in left. Seiya Suzuki is in right, Nico Hoerner handles short for the second game in a row, and Pedro Ramírez is at second. Carson Kelly bats last as the catcher.
They’re facing 25-year-old righty Trevor McDonald, who is making his seventh start of the season and 11th total MLB appearance. An 11th-round pick in 2019 out of George County High School in Lucedale, MS, the same school that produced Justin Steele, McDonald worked his way diligently through a series of injuries to make his debut in 2024. Dominance at the lower levels has not translated to the upper levels, but he’s been quite solid in limited big league action.
McDonald works from a low arm slot and pitches to contact with a sinker-heavy repertoire meant to induce grounders. That 94 mph two-seam makes up 60% of his pitches, then he’s got an 86 mph slider with more sweep and depth than most that accounts for nearly 30% of his remaining offerings. His 84 mph changeup plays way down in the zone and has not been effective at all thus far.
The righty has killed like-handed hitters so far, holding them to a .177 average with a .211 wOBA that includes no homers. Lefties have fared much better, however, with a .284 average and .371 wOBA and three homers. Given how PCA has been hitting lately, I like his chances tonight.
First pitch is at 7:30pm CT on NBC and The Score.
Sunday Night Baseball at @ofcwrigleyfield! pic.twitter.com/73T7VnMyAi
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 7, 2026
