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Chicago Cubs World Series: How they match up with the Cleveland Indians

By Carlos Nazario

Oct 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts (left) hands the National League Championship Trophy to President of Baseball operations Theo Epstein after game six of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Cubs win 5-0 to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts (left) hands the National League Championship Trophy to President of Baseball operations Theo Epstein after game six of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Cubs win 5-0 to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Designated hitter

The Chicago Cubs pull a surprise. Kyle Schwarber, the team’s leader in postseason home runs, will be on the World Series roster.

Schwarber shredded his knee in a collision with Fowler in the fourth game of the season. He had surgery and was expected to miss the rest of the season. He made a great recovery, however, and with the Cubs going deep into the playoffs, he appears fit enough to at least hit.

If Schwarber is able to hit like we know he can, it makes the Cubs offense that much more difficult to handle.

If Schwarber is able to hit like we know he can, it makes the Cubs offense that much more difficult to handle. Putting him in the lineup with Bryant and Rizzo will surely send shivers down Cleveland pitchers’ spines.

Maddon spoke about Schwarber and was impressed with his condition. “He’s been doing everything,” he said. “He’s swinging the bat well. He’s running very well. He’s done some sliding drills, all that kind of stuff just to test the whole thing out.”

Last season, Schwarber went crazy in the playoffs. He hit .333 with five homers and eight RBI. He had a 1.308 OPS also.

Carlos Santana (no, not the guitarist) will be Cleveland’s DH. Just like Zobrist is not your typical cleanup hitter, Santana is not your typical power hitter.

Sure, Santana hit 34 bombs and had 87 RBI in the regular season, he also had 99 walks. His patience at the plate makes him the Indians’ lead-off hitter. He is hitting just .172 in the postseason, but he does have two homers.

Advantage: Indians

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