Joe Maddon will be trying out four different hitters at the top of the order in these exhibition games, presumably rotating them around. Ian Happ offered a preview of that in Friday’s opener, and now Albert Almora Jr. gets a shot Saturday in a matchup with righty Clayton Blackburn.
This will give Almora, who has typically struggled against right-handers, a chance to build his confidence and maybe prove himself. The rest of the lineup closely resembles a regular-season setup, with Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Willson Contreras in the run-producing spots.
Jason Heyward will display his new swing from the five-hole, followed by Addison Russell and Javy Baez.