Cubs Lineup Includes Kelly at 1B, Long at DH, Brown on Mound

Chicago looks to bounce back from loss against White Sox as they face Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:10pm

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The Chicago Cubs are back in action on Saturday for another road game as they look to get closer to .500 after dropping one to the White Sox yesterday. Today's lineup features several familiar faces, including Nico Hoerner at second, Matt Shaw at third, Ian Happ in left, and Carson Kelly at first. Dylan Carlson is in center, Moisés Ballesteros is behind the plate, Kevin Alcántara is in right, and Jonathon Long is the designated hitter. Jefferson Rojas bats ninth at shortstop. Ben Brown will be making his third start and fourth overall appearance of the spring on the mound for the Cubs.

Why it matters

The Cubs are looking to bounce back after a loss to their crosstown rivals, the White Sox. This game against the Rockies provides an opportunity for the team to creep closer to a .500 record as the season progresses. The lineup features a mix of regulars and backups, showcasing the team's depth and flexibility, while Ben Brown's performance on the mound will be closely watched as he continues to develop his repertoire.

The details

Carson Kelly is getting a start at first base, while Miguel Amaya and Matt Shaw have also been working at the position in camp as the Cubs look to find a backup option when Michael Busch is out of the lineup. Ben Brown is making his third start of the spring, looking to improve upon his last outing where he gave up three runs on three hits while walking three and hitting two batters. The Cubs will be facing Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland, who is entering his 10th season with the organization and currently sits fourth all-time in team history with 65 wins, but also has 90 losses.

  • The game is scheduled for a 3:10pm CT first pitch on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Nico Hoerner

The Cubs' second baseman.

Matt Shaw

The Cubs' third baseman.

Carson Kelly

The Cubs' first baseman for today's game.

Ben Brown

The Cubs' starting pitcher, making his third start and fourth overall appearance of the spring.

Kyle Freeland

The Rockies' starting pitcher, a left-hander entering his 10th season with the organization.

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What they’re saying

“We have now seen two of the Cubs' three main catchers get time at first, and Miguel Amaya has been working there in camp as well. Shaw made the start there on Wednesday, so it's looking like Counsell will indeed go with a backup by committee when Michael Busch is out of the lineup.”

— Evan Altman, Author

What’s next

The Cubs will look to build on this game as they continue their spring training schedule, with their next contest scheduled for Monday, March 16th against the Dodgers.

The takeaway

The Cubs' lineup flexibility and depth are on display as they look to bounce back from a loss and get closer to a .500 record. Ben Brown's continued development on the mound will be a key storyline to watch as the team prepares for the regular season.