Looking to avoid a 3-game losing streak, the Chicago Cubs will send 25-year-old left-hander Chris Rusin out to make his major league debut on Tuesday for game two of their series with the Milwaukee Brewers.
A former Kentucky Wildcat selected by Chicago in the fourth round, Rusin was tabbed by Baseball America as having both the best change-up and best control in the Cubs organization after the 2010 season. He will face a Milwaukee lineup that exploded for 8 runs in the fifth inning alone in Monday's opener however, and will need to be extra sharp in his first outing in the big leagues.
Cubs manager Dale Sveum will once again roll with third baseman Josh Vitters in the No. 2 hole for game two, after the 22-year-old prospect finally broke through for his first career home run in Monday's loss. Vitters is hitting a meager .108 in 11 games since his call-up, but will look to build on his strong Game 1 performance against Milwaukee's Marco Estrada on Tuesday.
Here are the starting lineups for both teams:
Cubs
1. David DeJesus - RF
2. Josh Vitters - 3B
3. Anthony Rizzo - 1B
4. Alfonso Soriano - LF
5. Starlin Castro - SS
6. Welington Castillo - C
7. Brett Jackson - CF
8. Darwin Barney - 2B
9. Chris Rusin - SP
Brewers
1. Norichika Aoki - RF
2. Rickie Weeks - 2B
3. Ryan Braun - LF
4. Aramis Ramirez - 3B
5. Corey Hart - 1B
6. Jonathan Lucroy - C
7. Carlos Gomez - CF
8. Jean Segura - SS
9. Marco Estrada - SP
Head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue for more Cubs news, and check out Brew Crew Ball for more on the Brewers. Also visit Baseball Nation for more MLB cover from around the league.