Chicago Cubs: The most effective lineup they have isn’t being used

Batting second…

Kris Bryant is the MVP of the National League, and the Chicago Cubs. His ability to hit is not in question. The good thing is that his swing will travel wherever he is slotted in the lineup. And, it should not be second. There is at least one, if not two, players that could go here and do extremely well in this lineup. No. Not Jon Jay or Ben Zobrist. Think bigger.

Got it yet? Shocked? But, it makes sense.

Kyle Schwarber hit second in the final two games of the World Series. It was probably some of his best at-bats in the series. Four hits, and walk, and a run in nine at-bats. And, no strikeouts. Plus a stolen base. Get a runner on in front of him and pitchers are required to throw around the plate more and low, hoping to gain a ground ball. That is not what Schwarber does.  When Kyle can be Kyle, 85% of his contact is either medium or hard. He will hit a grounder, but typically hard enough to get through the infield.

The other option here is another shocker. Anthony Rizzo. Fact: Rizzo’s highest average and on-base percentages with 200 or more plate appearances is when he is slotted second. Granted, most of his career has been in the third or fourth spot, but he is .291/.396/.519 when batting second. And, he averages a home run every 17 at-bats in the two hole, a full 4 at-bats better than where he hits now.

So, my pick for hitting in the second spot of the order is…

Anthony Rizzo.