April 01--Mike Bryant suggested that his son Kris ask Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon to let him have a shot at topping Cal Ripken Jr.'s record for playing in 2,632 consecutive games.
Maddon chuckled when a reporter brought up the elder Bryant's suggestion, but Las Vegas fans will get a different look at Bryant when the Cubs face the New York Mets at Cashman Field.
Bryant, who starred at Bonanza High School, will play right field in the first game of this two-game exhibition series. Bryant will face Mets pitcher and friend Paul Sewald, whom he played against at Bishop Gorman High School before becoming teammates at the University of San Diego.
Jason Heyward will move to center as Dexter Fowler rests his left side for one more game, and Tommy La Stella will play at third base in place of Bryant.
Also, John Lackey pitched seven innings in a minor league game at Mesa. Lackey will make his first start on April 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Here are the lineups:
CUBS
Zobrist 2b
Heyward cf
Bryant rf
Rizzo 1b
Schwarber lf
La Stella 3b
Russell ss
Ross c
Williams p
METS
Granderson rf
Wright 3b
Cespedes cf
Duda 1b
Walker 2b
Conforto lf
Cabrera ss
Plawecki c
Sewald p
