CINCINNATI -- Playoff questions won’t get complete answers until after Sunday’s regular season finale but let’s tackle a few as the Cubs start their final weekend of the regular season:
What will a Cubs wild card roster look like?
General manager Jed Hoyer called a wild card roster “unusual,” considering there is no need for an entire starting staff. Remember, the Cubs can reset it before the division series, so don’t expect more than two starting pitchers to be available on Wednesday.
The Cubs will take either 16 position players and nine pitchers or 15/10. In 2013 with the Rays, Joe Maddon took 16 position players -- that’s the most likely scenario for the Cubs. It means only one current position player would not make the roster as the Cubs have 17 non-pitchers in the dugout right now. The final cut could come down to Matt Szczur or Jonathan Herrera. Both have played sparingly down the stretch.
As for the pitching staff, Neil Ramirez and Fernando Rodney along with Carl Edwards and Zac Rosscup are on the bubble, as only one of the four is most likely to make it after Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, Justin Grimm, Trevor Cahill, Clayton Richard, Travis Wood, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon. That’s based on performance. The Cubs could always add or subtract someone based on a matchup, while Maddon would like to see more of Grimm this weekend as he’s been struggling.
“That’s the nature of these rosters,” Hoyer said Thursday before the Cubs played the Cincinnati Reds. “You always have to assume everyone put on the roster is going to be put in a huge spot.”
Why would Lester be on the roster if Arrieta is starting the game?
In case of an early game injury, the Cubs want to have a competent starter behind Arrieta. Lester would only be used in an emergency situation -- say, if Arrieta was injured in the first couple innings. Hoyer actually stopped short of saying it would be Lester on the roster backing up Arrieta, but that’s the most likely scenario.
What about a starting lineup for the game? Have the Cubs decided on one?
Far from it. Maddon and the front office have their stat guys running “simulations” with offensive-oriented lineups and then defensive ones. The biggest decisions might come in the outfield as PNC Park in Pittsburgh -- most likely where the game will be played -- has a lot of room to roam.
“The ballpark is a unique configuration,” Hoyer said. “That’s one of many factors we’re going to talk about.”
The other tough decision is at second base where Maddon has three capable players in Starlin Castro, Javier Baez and Tommy La Stella. Each bring a unique set of skills to the game.
When does all this have to be figured out?
The Cubs will meet on Monday before traveling to Pittsburgh but final rosters for the wild card game don’t have to be submitted to the league until the morning of the game on Wednesday. The starting lineup will follow.
