Cubs shake up World Series Game 6 lineup, Kyle Schwarber batting second
CLEVELAND – With the designated hitter back in play in an American League ballpark, Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon has given his batting order a little twist for Game 6 of the World Series.
Kyle Schwarber will once again return to the lineup as DH, but he’ll be hitting second behind leadoff man Dexter Fowler.
Maddon has moved Schwarber up Tuesday night against Cleveland Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin – bumping Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist down one spot in the order.
Schwarber went 3-for-7 with a pair of walks as the DH in the first two games of the series, but only had one plate appearance in the three games in Chicago.
“Kyle makes our lineup longer,” Maddon said Monday. “I’m not really a big fan of the DH as I am right now. And I’ve never wanted to play the seventh game of the World Series as much as I do right now either.”
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The move to the No. 2 spot gives Schwarber a bit more lineup protection than he had hitting in front of Willson Contreras .071 in World Series), Addison Russell (.196) and Javier Baez (.143).
Trailing three games to two in the series, the Cubs need to win Tuesday to force a winner-take-all Game 7 tomorrow night.