(670 The Score) Newly acquired Nick Castellanos will bat second and play right field in his Cubs debut Thursday evening.
Chicago sent a pair of minor league pitchers to Detroit on Wednesday just ahead of the trade deadline to add Castellanos. Jason Heyward will lead off for the Cubs, and he's shifting from right field to play center.
Newly acquired Tony Kemp will also get playing time right away, as he will hit eighth and play second base. Chicago acquired him in a trade with Houston, sending catcher Martin Maldonado to the Astros.
Here is tonight’s #Cubs starting lineup in St. Louis. #EverybodyInStream on @NBCSChicago: https://t.co/rGCuW1XI7C pic.twitter.com/uUHZIjKua1
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs)
August 1, 2019 Castellanos, 27, is hitting .273 with 11 homers, 37 RBIs and a .790 OPS in 100 games while playing about half his games at hitter-unfriendly Comerica Park. Castellanos is particularly good at hitting lefties, with a .347 batting average and 1.026 OPS in 82 plate appearances against them this season.
Kemp, 27, was hitting .227 with seven homers, 17 RBIs and a .725 OPS in 66 games for the Astros.
Cubs left-hander Jon Lester will oppose right-hander Jack Flaherty on Thursday, with first pitch set for 6:15 p.m. Pregame starts on 670 The Score at 5:40 p.m. The teams are currently tied for first place in the NL Central.
