Maddon, Cubs sticking with Starlin Castro in cleanup spot

Tony Andracki

Where does Starlin Castro fit in the puzzle that is the Cubs' lineup?

Castro's elite hand-eye coordination and skill set may seem best suited for the two-hole, but his low walk totals make it tough to put him there on a regular basis.

Castro found some success in the cleanup spot last season - .287 average, .772 OPS in 103 games - and that's where Cubs manager Joe Maddon has penciled the young shortstop over the last few weeks.

But Castro is hitting just .233 with a .527 OPS in the fourth spot in the Cubs lineup this year, with only one extra-base hit and five RBI in 15 games.

Before Tuesday's game, Maddon said he is planning on sticking with Castro in the four-hole for the time…