In the latest attempt to jump-start a stagnant offense, manager Joe Maddon has placed Ben Zobrist at the leadoff spot Friday night when the Cubs play the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Zobrist will bat first for only the second time this season as the Cubs try to reverse a trend in which they have scored three runs or fewer in eight consecutive games.
Zobrist is 1-for-4 lifetime against Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas. No other Cubs player has an at-bat against Mikolas, who played in Japan the last three seasons after pitching for the Padres and Rangers from 2012 to 2014.
Albert Almora Jr. will bat sixth, and Javier Baez will return to the eighth spot and play shortstop.
Here’s the Cubs lineup:
Zobrist 2B
Bryant 3B
Rizzo 1B
Contreras C
Schwarber LF
Almora Jr. CF
Hewyard RF
Baez SS
Quintana P
Twitter @MDGonzales
Column: Don't be fooled by the Sammy Sosa on your TV screen »
Albert Almora Jr. making all the plays in center field but knows he 'can't get comfortable' at Wrigley »
Carl Edwards Jr.'s 'nasty' stuff earns praise from fellow Cubs pitchers »