Oct. 07--Kyle Schwarber will start in right field and Tommy La Stella at third base Wednesday night as the Chicago Cubs face the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League wild-card game.
Kris Bryant, who normally plays third, will start in left field -- where Schwarber played for most of the final two months. Bryant has the range to cover the spacious area in left at PNC.
"Maybe on paper it would not be our best defensive lineup, but matching up against (Pirates ace) Gerrit Cole our best offensive lineup," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.
Bryant is 3-for-9 lifetime against Cole. Schwarber is 1-for-5 and La Stella 1-for-6 against Cole, but the Cubs' lineup features a left-handed, right-handed alignment so the Pirates might be hard-pressed to leave a reliever in the game for more than one batter in a high-leverage situation.
Opening night shortstop Starlin Castro will start at second base. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and Castro are each 6-for-17 (.353) lifetime against Cole.
Here's the Cubs' lineup:
Fowler CF
Schwarber RF
Bryant LF
Rizzo 1B
La Stella 3B
Castro 2B
Montero C
Russell SS
Arrieta P
