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Levine: Cubs' Kyle Schwarber Still A Long Shot For World Series

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The buzz started early Saturday and was confirmed as the day progressed. Out since the first week of the season, Kyle Schwarber is testing his surgically repaired left knee in hopes of a possible return to the Cubs should they make the World Series. He's been sent to get at-bats in the Arizona Fall League.

There are several assumptions to be made here if Schwarber's to return. First, the Cubs must advance to the World Series, which they will do with a win against the Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday night or in Game 7, if it's needed, on Sunday.

Second, Schwarber must be able to sustain the workload of hitting without fear of re-injuring himself. Third, the Cubs' front office and coaching staff must believe that Schwarber can perform at a high level.

Lastly, the organization would have to decide if adding Schwarber would be worth taking a more functional player off the 25-man roster. Because if Schwarber were to be included on Chicago's roster, he'd do so in a DH role in Cleveland and be available to pinch-hit in games at Wrigley Field.

World Series rosters must be set Tuesday morning, before the opener that evening. Once the rosters are set, you can't add a new player unless someone gets hurt. The Cubs must make this decision with the confidence that Schwarber is going to be effective while also not hurting himself.

A lot is riding on the possible addition of a player who hasn't faced big league pitching for six months.

"There is a chance," manager Joe Maddon said. "Again, it's like everything else. You evaluate things. He has taken batting practice well. He has hit off a simulated live pitcher well. He has hit the ball well. Running and change of directions have gone well. Again, I don't know to what extent we could use him or not. Right now we are trying to explore all the opportunities."

Schwarber was cleared by his doctor on Monday for activity. He went to Arizona and has been doing baseball activities since Tuesday. He was to DH on Saturday evening for the Mesa team in the Arizona Fall League.

Under AFL rules, Schwarber can only play twice in a baseball week. He will be on the team's taxi squad, with the six roster spots each team has in the Fall League being filled.

Schwarber is eligible for the AFL because he has fewer than two full seasons in the major leagues.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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