John Bazemore/AP Photos
ATLANTA — For the second consecutive game Wednesday, the Cubs’ Miles Mastrobuoni jogged out to shortstop and Nick Madrigal to second base to start a game.
When the season opened, neither was penciled in at those spots. Mastrobuoni was on the roster as a defensively versatile bench player, and Madrigal was the defensive option at third base. Gold Glovers Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner were reprising their roles as one of the best middle-infield duos in the majors.
But after a sprained right knee landed Swanson on the injured list last week and a tight hamstring sidelined Hoerner for two games, Mastrobuoni and Madrigal stepped in.