Return to Cleveland means return of Cubs’ X-factor

CLEVELAND — The Cubs’ X-factor in this World Series was a non-factor in three games at Wrigley Field. Kyle Schwarber, limited to pinch-hit duty by a surgically repaired left knee, took one swing in Chicago’s 26 innings at bat, producing a broken-bat flare to second with the bases empty in the eighth inning of Game 3.

Now, Schwarber will be a factor again. With the Series shifting back to Progressive Field for Tuesday’s Game 6, Schwarber will transform from cheerleader back into designated hitter. It’s a role he filled ably in Games 1 and 2.

• Game 6: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET air time | 8 ET game time on FOX

“It was almost an advantage for us to play there [in Chicago],” said Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis. “When you put him back in the DH, he’s a good hitter. He’s a great hitter, actually. In the playoffs, he’s shown that [he can] not make the situation too big. It makes them a tougher lineup, for sure.”

Game Date Time (air time/game time) Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 25   CLE 6, CHC 0 Gm 2 Oct. 26   CHC 5, CLE 1 Gm 3 Oct. 28   CLE 1, CHC 0 Gm 4 Oct. 29   CLE 7, CHC 2 Gm 5 Oct. 30   CHC 3, CLE 2 Gm 6 Nov. 1 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX *Gm 7 Nov. 2 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX * If necessary | All times listed ET • World Series coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Indians

Or as Indians Game 6 starter Josh Tomlin put it: “I mean, you’re essentially taking out the worst hitter in the lineup and putting in one of the better hitters in the lineup. So it’s definitely different.”

• Shop for World Series gear: Cubs | Indians

The 23-year-old Schwarber, an Ohio native, gave the Cubs a lift at the start of the Series just by making the roster. He was hitless in the regular season, felled in the Cubs’ third game by a devastating knee injury that was supposed to sideline him until 2017 Spring Training. Instead, there was a promising checkup during the National League Championship Series, which led to a two-game …

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