Kris Bryant shakes off collision, embraces opportunity to DH

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Kris Bryant knew exactly who the Cubs were facing Tuesday night in the second game of the Crosstown series.

In a way, Bryant had this game circled on the schedule. 

White Sox starter James Shields was on the mound (as a member of the San Diego Padres) as the starting pitcher for Bryant's big-league debut in April 2015.

Bryant finished that day at Wrigley 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

In the clubhouse before Tuesday's game, a reporter assumed Bryant did not want to face Shields, but the Cubs All-Star third baseman immediately corrected that statement saying he was excited to get another shot at Shields.

Bryant was penciled into the Cubs' lineup as the designated hitter Tuesday after banging his head on Tyler Saladino's knee diving into second base in the ninth inning of Monday's game. 

Bryant was a little shaken up after that play, but stayed in the game for the bottom half of the inning.

"Anything with the head is scary," Bryant said. "I was fortunate enough that it wasn't serious. But after that, I felt fine."

For Tuesday, manager Joe Maddon figured it'd be best to give Bryant a half-day off.

"His head took the brunt of it initially, but he also said he hit his hand on the ground," Maddon said.

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Maddon originially had Bryant in Tuesday's lineup at third base, but thought better of it and changed his mind and put Tommy La Stella at the hot corner.

Bryant entered play Tuesday 1-for-6 career against Shields, including four strikeouts before striking out three times in four hitless at-bats Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field. He maintained he doesn't know his exact numbers against Shields, just that they're not great and believes it makes him more determined to face the veteran in the future.

"I don't ever look at that," Bryant said after Tuesday's game. "I mean, obviously, you kinda know the guys you do well against and the guys you don't do well against. But I never look at the numbers because every day is different. He coudl be on that night; he could be off that night.

"So it doesn't really matter to me about the history. It's more of how the pitches break and what goes into certain counts."

Bryant admitted DH'ing is a little bit different for him when he's used to the National League game.

"It'd be nice to get out and have fun with it a little bit," Bryant said. "Some of these American League games, it's good for some of us to get a DH here and there.

"It's a little [mental adjustment]. It's tough for us because we don't play DH a lot, so you don't really have anybody to ask here how to prepare for a day like that. But I've done it a couple times. We'll see."

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