Emilio Bonifacio has mastered the art of hitting through the first three games.
But the Chicago Cubs’ sparkplug will face a stiff challenge Friday when he starts in center field for the home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The rain has stopped more than four hours before the scheduled first pitch, but winds are expected to gust up to at least 30 mph.
Bonifacio has started two of the Cubs’ first three games in center field.
Anthony Rizzo moves up to the third spot after batting cleanup the first three games.
Despite speculation that manager Rick Renteria will employ a platoon system at second base, Darwin Barney will start and face Roberto Hernandez.
Here’s the Cubs’ lineup:
Bonifacio CF
Castro SS
Rizzo 1B
Schierholtz RF
Valbuena 3B
Castillo C
Sweeney LF
Barney 2B
Wood P
