April 13--Jon Lester caught a break before taking the Wrigley Field mound Monday night.
The Cincinnati Reds' lineup does not include speedster Billy Hamilton, who has seven stolen bases. That should bode well for Lester, who hasn't attempted a pickoff throw since 2013 and allowed St. Louis to steal three bases in his 2013 debut on April 5.
No explanation was given for Hamilton's omission from the lineup. Hamilton, a switch-hitter, is 1-for-5 against left-handers this season and a career .260 hitter against lefties.
Meanwhile, Anthony Rizzo's streak of reaching base safely ended Sunday at 18 games despite batting second for only the sixth time in his career.
Rizzo, however, will remain in the second spot for the Cubs.
Mike Olt returns to the Cubs' lineup, but infielder Tommy La Stella won't start for the fourth consecutive game because of a sore right side.
Here are the lineups:
Reds
Negron cf
Votto 1b
Frazier 3b
Phillips 2b
Byrd lf
Bruce rf
Pena c
Cozart ss
Leake P
Cubs
Fowler CF
Rizzo 1B
Soler RF
Coghlan LF
Castro SS
Olt 3B
Ross C
Lester P
Alcantara 2B
