The Cubs will begin the 2017 postseason with the player who got the final big hit of last year's postseason -- Benjamin Zobrist -- while the Nationals' lineup features Bryce Harper in the two-hole.
Zobrist bats leadoff for the Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Division Series presented by T-Mobile tonight against the Nationals as Chicago looks to defend its World Series crown.
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Zobrist will be followed by a familiar cast of characters in the Cubs' lineup, with Kristopher Bryant and Anthony Rizzo occupying their regular Nos. 2 and 3 spots in the lineup. Notable is manager Joe Maddon's outfield alignment. Maddon has Zobrist in right field, Kyle Schwarber in left and Jason Heyward in center. Heyward started just 12 games there this season, though the Gold Glover is more than capable of playing it well.
The Nats' lineup has Harper back in the two-hole, where he's hit since returning from injury on Sept. 26. Before that, Harper had hit second just once this season. But slotting him there makes the Nationals' lineup longer, as it pushes Anthony Rendon, Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman all down a spot behind leadoff man Trea Turner.
Kyle Hendricks will start for Chicago, while Stephen Strasburg gets the nod for Washington.
Cubs lineup
1. Ben Zobrist, RF
2. Kris Bryant, 3B
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Willson Contreras, C
5. Kyle Schwarber, LF
6. Addison Russell, SS
7. Jason Heyward, CF
8. Javier Baez, 2B
9. Kyle Hendricks, P
Nationals lineup
1. Trea Turner, SS
2. Bryce Harper, RF
3. Anthony Rendon, 3B
4. Daniel Murphy, 2B
5. Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
6. Jayson Werth, LF
7. Matt Wieters, C
8. Michael A. Taylor, CF
9. Stephen Strasburg, P