Kyle Schwarber is the designated hitter for the second straight night for the Chicago Cubs and struggling outfielder Jason Heyward again is on the bench for Game 2 of the World Series against the Cleveland Indians.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon has elected to start Jorge Soler in right field and also will start catcher Wilson Contreras for Wednesday night’s game.
Heyward sat in Game 1 on Tuesday night as left-handed hitter Chris Coghlan played against right-hander Corey Kluber, who dominated into the seventh inning as the Indians beat the Cubs 6-0 in Tuesday night’s opener at Progressive Field.
Heyward, a left-handed hitter, is benched again as the Cubs face right-hander Trevor Bauer. The right-handed hitting Soler is 0-for-8 this postseason with two walks and three strikeouts but batted .474 in the playoffs last year. Heyward is hitting .071 in 28 at-bats in the playoffs.
Contreras is behind the plate with right-hander Jake Arrieta on the mound for the Cubs. Contreras is 9-for-22 (.409) in the postseason and provides a stronger arm than David Ross, who started Game 1.
Schwarber, making a surprise return in his first major league game since tearing knee ligaments on April 7, doubled off the right field wall in the fourth on Tuesday night. He was 1-for-3 with one walk and two strikeouts.
25% Bonus via Western Union
