Joe Maddon posted his lineup for Sunday’s exhibition game against the Athletics at HoHoKam Park. Kyle Schwarber is back in the starting lineup, as expected, and playing left field.
Schwarber was held out of spring games Friday and Saturday after tweaking his left knee making a throw to the plate in the second inning of Thursday’s game against the Mariners in Peoria.
Maddon’s starting lineup versus the A’s: Anthony Rizzo 1B, Javier Baez 2B, Kyle Schwarber LF, Jeimer Candelario 3B, David Ross C, Albert Almora Jr. CF, Willson Contreras DH, John Andreoli RF, Munenori Kawasaki SS and Kyle Hendricks P
Anthony Rizzo is batting leadoff for the first time this spring. Rizzo hit at the top of Maddon’s spring order once last year. Javier Baez gets a start at the fourth different position. Baez has started games at center field, first base and shortstop.
Jeimer Candelario is playing for the seventh straight game, making his fifth start in a row. Candelario had a good game against the White Sox and is 5-for-20 with two doubles, a home run, two walks and three strikeouts in his last four games.
Willson Contreras turned in two defensive gems Saturday night in Glendale and went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles at the plate. Contreras gets to just hit today as the Cubs’ DH.
Kyle Hendricks makes his third Cactus League appearance, second start. Pedro Strop is scheduled to make his spring debut.
Lefties Travis Wood and Manny Parra are also on the pitching schedule for Sunday’s game. Hector Rondon and Andury Acevedo are also expected to pitch Sunday.
The reserves on Maddon’s roster for Sunday’s game include Dan Vogelbach, Arismendy Alcantara, Taylor Davis, Kris Negron and Jesus Guzman.