Willson Contreras, Jorge Soler in Cubs lineup for Game 2 of The World Series
Weather permitting … Game 2 of The World Series is tonight (6:08pm CDT) at an earlier time than first scheduled. Jake Arrieta gets the ball as the Cubs look to even The Series and right-hander Trevor Bauer is starting for the Indians.
Joe Maddon is going with defense and with the splits for his starting lineup. Willson Contreras is catching Arrieta and batting seventh which should help control the Indians’ running game. Jorge Soler is starting in right field and batting eighth as Jason Heyward is left out of the starting lineup for the third straight game.
Maddon is beginning the game with an outfield of Ben Zobrist (LF), Dexter Fowler (CF) and Jorge Soler (RF). Jake Arrieta better bring his A-game tonight.
Kyle Schwarber is starting and batting fifth tonight.
Cubs batting order: Dexter Fowler CF, Kris Bryant 3B, Anthony Rizzo 1B, Ben Zobrist LF, Kyle Schwarber DH, Javier Baez 2B, Willson Contreras C, Jorge Soler RF, Addison Russell SS
The Cubs starting lineup features six players age 24 or younger which is a new postseason record.
Right-handed batters have hit .257/.333/.399 against Trevor Bauer this season with a .732 (14 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs) in 378 at-bats. Left-handers have a .690 OPS (22 doubles, two triples, eight home runs) while hitting .239/.305/.385 in 343 at-bats.
The Cubs will have Albert Almora Jr., Jason Heyward, Chris Coghlan, David Ross and Miguel Montero on the bench at the beginning of the game.