MESA, Ariz. - It's almost time for some games, Cubs fans.
After a long and wild offseason, the Cubs play an actual - albeit, exhibition - game Thursday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers.
[SHOP: Gear up, Cubs fans!]
The Cubs announced their lineup for the Cactus League opener Monday, with plenty of big-league players suiting up:
1. Kyle Schwarber - LF
2. Kris Bryant - 3B
3. Anthony Rizzo - 1B
4. Jorge Soler - RF
5. Miguel Montero - C
6. Javy Baez - CF
7. Tommy La Stella - 2B
8. Dan Vogelbach - DH
9. Munenori Kawasaki - SS
Travis Wood - P
The first thing that catches the eye is Schwarber leading off. The slugger does not fit the bill of a conventional leadoff guy, but manager Joe Maddon is anything but conventional and this is only a spring game, after all.
The Cubs manager insists there's no need to make the lineups out to be more than they are.
MLB
"You're gonna see everybody play. Nothing can be read into anywhere," Maddon said. "You're gonna see guys all over the map. you're gonna see different batting orders. I promise you, please don't read anything into it. It's just an opportunity to get a look at guys in different spots.
"I think we're all eager to start playing a game."
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It's also interesting to see Baez in center field. After Dexter Fowler signed, some assumed he and Jason Heyward would be the Cubs seeing most of the time in center, but Maddon has talked up Baez's ability to play anywhere in the outfield and wants the young super-sub to get some game experience all over the diamond.
"If [Baez] makes a couple or three great plays, don't be surprised," Maddon said. "He's just a really good athlete, good baseball player and he's capable of doing those things."
Wood will likely throw just a couple innings with Kyle Hendricks slated to immediately follow.
Heyward, Fowler, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and David Ross are among the position players not expected to play at all in Thursday's game.