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Kyle Schwarber will DH for Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series

Mike Oz

CLEVELAND — The 2016 World Series has its first shocker: Kyle Schwarber is back and will start in Game 1, according to Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon.

Schwarber — who tore his ACL and MCL in April — will DH for the Cubs against the Cleveland Indians, a scenario that seemed almost unthinkable just last week when the injured Schwarber was cheering on his teammates from the dugout.

Maddon made the announcement on Chicago radio station 670 The Score in the hours before Game 1, before the Cubs lineup was officially announced. And when the official lineup came out a short while later, Schwarber wasn’t the only surprise. Chris Coghlan gets the start in right field in place of the struggling Jason Heyward, who is just 2-for-28 this postseason.

Here is how the Cubs lineup shakes out:

  1. Dexter Fowler LF

  2. Kris Bryant 3B

  3. Anthony Rizzo 1B

  4. Ben Zobrist LF

  5. Kyle Schwarber DH

  6. Javy Baez 2B

  7. Chris Coghlan RF

  8. Addison Russell SS

  9. David Ross C

Jon Lester is on the mound for the Cubs.

Here is the Indians lineup:

  1. Rajai Davis CF

  2. Jason Kipnis 2B

  3. Francisco Lindor SS

  4. Mike Napoli 1B

  5. Carlos Santana DH

  6. Jose Ramirez 3B

  7. Brandon Guyer LF

  8. Lonnie Chisenhall RF

  9. Roberto Perez C

Corey Kluber is on the mound for the Indians.

Kyle Schwarber will be back for the Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series. (Getty Images)
Kyle Schwarber will be back for the Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series. (Getty Images)

Schwarber was ruled out for the year after his injury, which happened on an outfield collision on April 7, his second game of the year. It looked like Schwarber was aiming for a return over the weekend, when the Cubs sent him to the Arizona Fall League to test his knee. He played in two games there and seemed well enough to give it a try in the World Series.

Prior to Game 1, Schwarber said the idea of him returning for the World Series wasn’t a possibility until a couple days ago.

“I’d probably say about six days ago,” Schwarber said. “So the plan was pretty much the whole time that it was going to be spring training. I took regular visits to the doctor every month or two. And he kept telling me, ‘It’s going to be spring training.’ Then this past doctor’s visit I had right before we went to L.A. for the CS he looked at my knee, he’s like, ‘Man, it’s great. You’re strong. I’m not going to hold you back from doing anything.’ So then we went from there.”

As for his incredible story, Schwarber said it hasn’t sunk in yet, but admitted he would “probably cry at some point today.”

Schwarber added that his surgically repaired knee feels great, and that the only pain issue he’s having is due to blisters on his hands. He does not expect to be limited while running the bases, either.

“I’m sure you guys saw the video in the Fall League, that was probably about 50% of what I could actually do in a game,” Schwarber said. “We were more focusing on at-bats there, and not focusing on the running portion. We did that earlier in the day, and felt really good. I have full confidence in myself and my running ability.”

He was added to the World Series roster on Tuesday morning, replacing relief pitcher Rob Zastryzny, but his role wasn’t announced until Maddon’s radio appearance. As he proved last season by hitting five homers in the postseason, Schwarber’s bat could be a game-changer. In the AL park, he wouldn’t need to play the field, only run the bases well enough.

Clearly, that’s not why he’s here. He’s not going to steal a base. Schwarber’s big bat can change a game with one swing and that’s reason enough for the Cubs to risk putting him in the lineup.

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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!