The Cubs’ answer to their inability to use Kyle Schwarber in the field was answered with manager Joe Maddon’s lineup card Friday.
Right-handed hitting Jorge Soler starts in right field, batting sixth, against an Indians right-hander — Josh Tomlin — who actually has more trouble against right-handed hitter.
Soler is the first Cub to start in right in back-to-back games since Jason Heyward was benched after Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. Albert Almora Jr. and Chris Coghlan have also started there since then.
The full Cubs lineup (with the wind expected to be blowing steadily out to left as the game starts):
- CF Dexter Fowler
- 3B Kris Bryant
- 1B Anthony Rizzo
- LF Ben Zobrist
- C Willson Contreras
- RF Jorge Soler
- 2B Javy Baez
- SS Addison Russell
- RHP Kyle Hendricks
If Schwarber had been medically cleared to play left field, the switch-hitting Zobrist likely would have played right.
Meanwhile, the Indians have their own outfield issues as Carlos Santana — whose best position in the field is DH — is starting in left, potentially turning Friday into Guaranteed Extra Base Hit Night on balls that clear the left side of the infield.
Indians lineup:
- LF Carlos Santana
- 2B Jason Kipnis
- SS Francisco Lindor
- 1B Mike Napoli
- 3B Jose Ramirez
- RF Lonnie Chisenhall
- C Roberto Perez
- CF Tyler Naquin
- RHP Josh Tomlin
