This post has been updated with the necessary information for Game 2.
After a playoff-clinching day at Wrigley Field , the Chicago Cubs have traveled into hazardous territory.
Not only have the Boston Red Sox been one of baseball's best second-half teams, but the elements will also be a huge factor. The East Coast is supposed to get slammed with storms this weekend, which is why the two teams have already opted for a doubleheader on Friday.
Who: Chicago Cubs (87-71) at Boston Red Sox (85-74)
Where: Fenway Park
When: 12:05 PM CT
Watch: Marquee Sports Network
Listen: 104.3 The Score
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong
, CF
2. Seiya Suzuki
, RF
3. Alex Bregman
, DH
4. Tyrone Taylor
, LF
5. Nico Hoerner
, 2B
6. Matt Shaw
, 3B
7. Michael Busch
, 1B
8. Dansby Swanson
, SS
9. Miguel Amaya
, C
The Chicago Cubs will be going with their pretty standard lefty lineup against Alec Gamboa. Tyrone Taylor will be in the cleanup spot as he continues to dominate southpaws with a .308 batting average. Nico Hoerner will then slide into the five-hole, while Matt Shaw will start for the first time since September 22.
Speaking of which, Shaw will be stationed at third base for the banged-up Alex Bregman. But that doesn't mean the veteran isn't ready to make his return! After missing only three games, Bregman is shockingly back in the lineup and batting third out of the DH spot. You can't help but admire the toughness!
1. Roman Anthony
, LF
2. Mickey Gasper
, C
3. Adley Rutschman
, DH
4. Wilyer Abreu
, RF
5. Caleb Durbin
, 3B
6. Nick Sogard
, 2B
7. Jarren Duran
, CF
8. Andruw Monasterio
, 1B
9. Isiah Kiner-Kalefa, SS
Sep 12, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Clay Holmes (25) throws the ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Clay Holmes is hoping for a bounceback day. In his last start against the Reds, he got rocked for 6 earned runs. His command was all over the place, walking five batters in his 5.1 innings of work. To be clear, he only gave up three hits on the night, but that's the kind of damage that can be done when you're giving up so many free bases.
This should be a decent matchup for Holmes. The Red Sox don't offer a ton of pop, and they have a groundball rate of about 42.7 percent this season. Still, if the control isn't there, this could be another long day.
This will be only Alec Gamboa's second start of the season. He will be operating as an opener for the Red Sox, who will be going with a bullpen game in this first of two. The left has been very good this season with a 1.16 ERA, though it has been in pretty limited action (31 innings).
While one might assume that this approach for the Red Sox bodes well for the Cubs, they have arguably the best bullpen in baseball.
Who: Chicago Cubs (87-71) at Boston Red Sox (85-74)
Where: Fenway Park
When: 4:35 PM CT
Watch: Marquee Sports Network
Listen: 104.3 The Score
The Boston Red Sox have moved the start time for their second game against the Cubs up 30 minutes due to the looming weather on the East Coast. This comes in the wake of adding this doubleheader to the calendar to avoid potential issues. There are reportedly conversations about moving the team's next game to a neutral site to get it in on time before the Wild Card round.
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
2. Seiya Suzuki, RF
3. Michael Busch, 1B
4. Michael Conforto
, DH
5. Ian Happ
, LF
6. Nico Hoerner, SS
7. Pedro Ramirez, 2B
8. Carson Kelly
, C
9. Matt Shaw 3B
After dropping the first of two, the Chicago Cubs will shake things up against a righty.
Alex Bregman will sit after returning in the opener, paving the way for Michael Conforto to step back into the DH role. Michael Busch will also move back up the order and hit third behind Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki.
To little surprise, Ian Happ returns for Tyrone Taylor. The switch hitter will be in left field and can hopefully play a part in pushing this Cubs' offense past their recent slump. He has been one of their better hitters over the last seven games, recording a .273 batting average with a homer, six hits, and three walks.
Matt Shaw gets the green light for the second consecutive game at third base. Craig Counsell is going with the hot hand, as he finished with two hits and three total paces in the first outing.
1. Roman Anthony, LF
2. Jahmal Jones, LF
3. Wilyer Abreu, RF
4. Trevor Story
, SS
5. Nick Sogard, 1B
6. Andruw Monasterio, 1B
7. Jarren Duran, CF
8. Isiah Kiner-Kalefa, SS
9. Connor Wong
, C
Sep 14, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher David Peterson (19) throws the ball against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Chicago Cubs will have arguably their best arm of the second half on the mound for a big Game 2 against the Red Sox. Expected to eventually move to the bullpen after the Cubs' other trade deadline moves, Peterson has essentially forced himself into their postseason rotation. He has only given up a single run in three consecutive contests, and he's only given up more than two earned runs once in his last seven outings.
Peterson's last two games have been especially impressive, as he has held both the Braves and Reds to an identical three hits with one run on seven strikeouts. Everything is working for the southpaw right now, and the Cubs need him more than ever now with the top Wild Card spot up for grabs.
The Cubs can get to Bryan Bello. The Red Sox righty has just a 4.49 ERA this season in 112.1 innings of work. He's an incredibly savvy ground ball pitcher but isn't known to go very deep into games and has only two traditional starts under his belt since the beginning of July.
With that said, Bello is coming off a masterclass against the Tampa Bay Rays . He went a shocking 8.0 innings deep with only five hits and one run allowed. He also uncharacteristically struck out 11 batters. If that version of Bello shows up again this afternoon, the Cubs could be in some trouble.
This post will be updated with more information.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/cubs/onsi as Cubs vs. Red Sox Lineups (Game 1 & 2): Bregman Sits, Can Shaw Keep It Going? (UPDATED) .
