Ian Happ will not have the opportunity to lead this one off with a homer, but maybe Albert Almora Jr. can force some crazy Cubs blogger to jump in a lake. The next five spots are unchanged, as Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, and Addison Russell comprise the heart of the order.
What’s that you were saying about Schwarber’s defense? I couldn’t hear you over the thunderous crash of his home run.
Ben Zobrist will bat seventh and play right, basically a direct swap with Jason Heyward, while Javy Baez hits eighth again. It’s only the second game, but this gives us a glimpse at how playing time will be allocated.