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Maddon knows Heyward isn't happy being benched

Jon Durr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

It's perhaps the biggest game in Chicago Cubs history, and their $184-million man is on the bench.

Jason Heyward's prolonged postseason struggles left manager Joe Maddon with little choice but to replace him in the lineup for Game 6 of the NLCS, where the Cubs will look to win their first pennant in 71 years.

Instead, rookie Albert Almora Jr. was tabbed as the Cubs' right fielder, and he'll make his first career playoff start against perhaps the game's best arm in Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw on Saturday night.

While Maddon stopped short of criticizing Heyward's performance, he noted that there's more comfort in his mind with the right-handed hitting Almora facing Kershaw instead of the left-handed Heyward.

"Kershaw's pitching, so I wanted to get one more right-handed bat in the lineup, and also with Albert I don't feel like we're losing anything on defense," Maddon told reporters, according to ASAP Sports. "I know Jason's a Gold Glover, but I think Albert, given an opportunity to play often enough, would be considered a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder too."

Almora has played just two games in right field this season, and doesn't have a hit in the playoffs. The 22-year-old did have a strong finish to his rookie season, though, posting a .310/.355/.552 line over 13 games in September. By contrast, Heyward - a defensive whiz who earned his megadeal primarily with his glove - is just 2-for-28 in October and was a disaster at the plate for much of the regular season.

Maddon knows Heyward isn't thrilled by his Game 6 decision, but justified it by pointing to Almora's abilities against left-handed pitching.

"It's never easy," Maddon said. "And, again, just like last time, I texted him in advance, which we normally do. So I'm certain that he's not very happy with the whole thing. I wouldn't be if I was him either. But moving forward, this guy is so impressively good against left-handers. And if we didn't have the options that we do, I couldn't do it. But under the circumstances that we can, I think Albert gives us another opportunity there offensively while not hurting ourselves on defense.

"So, at the end of the day, man, you just got to make some tough calls, some tough decisions. And, listen, he's been a huge part of our success this year. But for right now, this little micro moment, I thought it was better to go with Albert tonight."

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