Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is not in the starting lineup for the second straight game against the Cincinnati Reds after leaving the series opener on Tuesday with lower back tightness.
Rizzo didn’t play in Wednesday’s 7-5 loss to the Reds and gets another day of rest on Thursday. Cubs officials don’t believe the injury is serious. Chris Valaika will get his second straight start at first base and bat seventh.
Outfielder Jorge Soler is back in the lineup on Thursday, batting fifth and playing right field again after homering in his first at-bat in his major league debut on Wednesday night.
According to ESPN Stats and Information, the Cubs became the first team in history to have two players, each 22 or younger, hit a home run in their first major league games in the same season. Second baseman Javier Baez (21) also homered in his first game earlier this month in Colorado. Soler went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs in the loss.
Here’s the Cubs lineup against the Reds:
1. Chris Coghlan LF
2. Baez 2B
3. Starlin Castro, SS
4. Luis Valbuena, 3B
5. Soler, RF
6. Arismendy Alcantara, CF
7. Valaika, 1B
8. John Baker, C
9. Jake Arrieta, P
