Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Willson Contreras to get his first start


by - Senior Editor -

Chicago Cubs rookie catcher Willson Contreras will get his first major league start and catch for veteran pitcher John Lackey against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on Monday.

"I think John is pretty much predetermined where a catcher can follow his lead," Maddon said. "I think John's almost a perfect first guy for Contreras to catch. I don't know that a young catcher will carry the same amount of cache out to the mound that a veteran can, but I do know Willson would go out there with some conviction."

Contreras made his long-awaited major league debut on Friday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a defensive replacement in a 6-0 Cubs win.

"You'll see him more often, I promise you that," Maddon said.

He was batting a sizzling .350 with 16 doubles, nine homers and 43 RBIs for the Iowa Cubs this season. For his minor league career, he was batting .283 with 39 home runs and 282 RBIs.

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