The Chicago Cubs are in the final stretch of the season, with just ten games remaining. Seven of those ten games are at Wrigley Field, starting tonight with the four-game series opener against the Washington Nationals. Here's a look at the Cubs lineup against Patrick Corbin.

As has become normal practice for Craig Counsell this season, Michael Busch is out this evening against a lefty, with Patrick Wisdom subbing in his place. I don’t think this makes sense for the purposes of winning (which doesn’t matter anyway) or long-term development. But … who cares? I guess? Season’s over anyway, right?

Go Cubs, though.

Javier Assad on the Mound for the Cubs

Javier Assad went through a slow patch after returning from the injured list (as pitchers do), but he’s hit a nice stride of late. Since August 13, Assad has made six starts, averaging just under 6.0 IP per game, with a 3.34 ERA. You already know the strikeout rate is small, but he’s been generating a lot of contact on the ground and doing his usual escape artist act in bigger moments. I don’t know if it’s actually as sustainable as it has seemed, but Assad has consistently been better whenever he gets into trouble, so … who knows? Maybe there’s something to it.

Patrick Corbin's Ups and Downs for the Nationals

Patrick Corbin’s last start? Six innings of one-run ball, with only three hits and one walk against six strikeouts. Patrick Corbin’s second-to-last start? Six innings of SEVEN-run ball, with ten hits, including three homers, and only five strikeouts. And that’s Patrick Corbin in a nutshell at this point in his career. Corbin has nine quality starts this season and 13 in which he’s allowed at least 4 earned runs. Overall, it’s a 5.45 ERA over 30 games. Although to be fair, his 3.79 FIP in the second half is a whole lot better than the 5.25 ERA over the same stretch.

Cubs Looking to End the Season Strong

The Chicago Cubs are looking to end the season on a high note. They've shown flashes of brilliance throughout the year, but consistency has been a struggle. The team is hoping to finish strong and build momentum for next season.

The Cubs' offense has been inconsistent, scoring runs in bunches or forgetting how to hit entirely. However, their lineup has been fairly consistent over the past week-plus. Despite the inconsistencies, manager Craig Counsell has been consistent with his lineup construction, which has been a strength.

Can the Cubs Get a Win Against the Nationals?

The Cubs are facing 30-year-old lefty Austin Gomber, who’s putting together the best season of his career so far. After coming up with the Cardinals as a swingman, Gomber went to the Rockies as part of the Nolan Arenado trade in 2021 and has worked primarily out of the rotation since then with the last two seasons seeing him start exclusively. It’s worth noting that Gomber has committed only two errors in his entire career while the supposedly elite gloveman Arenado has made nine gaffes this season alone and 41 since the deal.

Gomber doesn’t miss many bats and gives up a lot of contact in the air, including 27 homers in 152 innings, but he goes out there and consistently gets around six innings. The Cubs should be able to get plenty of hits in this one, they just need to cash them in. All that could really stop them is Gomber’s changeup, which he throws to the arm side as part of his strategy to foil lefty batters.

Dude pitches to very strong reverse splits that are even more pronounced on the road, so the right-handed hitters may have to do all the damage tonight. Or most of it, as I think Cody Bellinger could make a loud noise in this one. First pitch is at 7:40pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score.

Time to Tune In and See What Happens!

The Chicago Cubs are looking to end the season on a high note. With just ten games remaining, they have the opportunity to make a statement. Tune in to see if they can get a win against the Nationals and finish strong.

The Cubs' Final Stretch

The Cubs' remaining schedule includes seven games at Wrigley Field and three games on the road. The team has a chance to make a strong push for a winning record, but they will need to play well in these final games.

The Cubs have the potential to be a competitive team in the future, but they will need to address some of their inconsistencies. This season has been a mixed bag, but the team has shown flashes of brilliance. The Cubs' fans are hoping that they can finish strong and carry that momentum into next season.

The Cubs' final stretch will be a test for the team. They have the opportunity to finish strong and make a statement. However, they will need to overcome their inconsistencies and play well in these final games. It's up to the Cubs to make the most of their remaining opportunities and finish the season on a high note.