The Latest: World Series ratings still huge after Game 2

By foxsports
Published

CHICAGO (AP) The Latest on the World Series (all times Central):

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6:45 p.m.

The first two games of the World Series averaged 18.3 million viewers on Fox, up 27 percent from last year and the most since 2009.

The Nielsen company said Thursday that Chicago's 5-1 win over Cleveland on Wednesday night received an 11.3 rating and 19 share and averaged 17.4 million viewers. Kansas City's 7-1 victory over the New York Mets in Game 2 last year was seen by an average of 13.7 million viewers.

The two-game average of 10.7/19 and 19.2 million is the most since 11.8/19 and 19.2 million for the Yankees-Philadelphia Series in 2009.

In addition, Fox Sports Deportes averaged 278,000 for Spanish-language coverage for Game 2 and Fox Sports Go 115,000 for digitial viewership.

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5:45 p.m.

Cubs star Kyle Schwarber won't be in the starting lineup for the three World Series games this weekend after he was denied medical clearance to play the outfield following his return from knee surgery.

Schwarber tore a pair of knee ligaments on April 7 and returned in Tuesday's Series opener. He was 3 for 7 with a double, two RBIs and two walks as the designated hitter in the first two games at Cleveland, but with the shift to Wrigley Field, there will be no DH.

Chicago president of baseball operations Theo Epstein says it's too soon after the injury for Schwarber's knee to be fully tested, especially with quick moves required to play the outfield. He says: ''There was too much risk.''

Schwarber will be used as a pinch hitter. He says it's ''not disappointing at all'' and ''it was a long shot at the most.''