Folks, I’m not sure what to say about this one. My only guess is that Joe Maddon saw that Homer Bailey was on the mound for the Reds and just decided to go rogue.
Ben Zobrist, who’s been struggling mightily despite last night’s RBI, is back in the leadoff role and playing second base. He’s followed by Kyle Schwarber, which, sure. War Bear has been stringing together better plate appearances of late, but that’s just the last two games. Moving him up to the two-hole seems a bit premature (c’mon, reverse karmic influence).
Things even out a bit after that, with Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo in the big run-producing spots, Alex Avila catching and Ian Happ in center.