CHICAGO -- There aren't many teams who can lose a position player and slide an MVP candidate into that spot like the Cubs will do at shortstop with Javier Baez.
As soon as Baez stepped into the batter's box in the first inning on Saturday night against White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito, the "M-V-P" chants started. Baez responded by hitting the first pitch he saw, a changeup, to left field for his 34th home run, driving in Ben Zobrist who had singled and giving the Cubs a 2-0 lead.
With Addison Russell absent after being placed on administrative leave, Baez will take over at shortstop.