Kyle Schwarber is playing baseball Tuesday night for the first time in six months — in Game 1 of the World Series.
The Chicago Cubs outfielder was thought to be lost for the season after suffering a knee injury in April, but he’ll make his return and hit fifth as the Cubs’ designated hitter in Game 1 against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
Schwarber has spent the entire season rehabbing and recently returned to game action by getting some at-bats in the Arizona Fall League. The 23-year-old was a force in last year’s playoffs, hitting five home runs and driving in eight runs in just nine games.
The Cubs have the unenviable task of trying to solve Cleveland ace Corey Kluber. The former Cy Young winner is 2-1 this fall with an incredible 0.98 ERA, striking out 20 batters in 18 1/3 innings.
On the other side, Cleveland will try to solve Jon Lester, the Game 1 starter for Joe Maddon and the Cubs. Lester has earned the reputation as one of the best big-game pitchers in the playoffs, which is especially true in the World Series where he posted a 0.43 ERA in three starts with the Red Sox during the 2007 and 2013 series .
Here are the starting lineups for both teams.
Cubs
Dexter Fowler, CF
Kris Bryant, 3B
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Ben Zobrist, LF
Kyle Schwarber, DH
Javy Baez, 2B
Chris Coghlan, RF
Addison Russell, SS
David Ross, C
Jon Lester, LHP
Indians
Rajai Davis, CF
Jason Kipnis, 2B
Francisco Lindor, SS
Mike Napoli, 1B
Carlos Santana, DH
Jose Ramirez, 3B
Brandon Guyer, LF
Lonnie Chisenhall, RF
Roberto Perez, C
Corey Kluber, RHP
Thumbnail photo via Jon Durr/USA TODAY Sports Images
