CHICAGO – There was only one real surprise when the Chicago Cubs released their 25-man roster for the NLDS against the San Francisco Giants, which begins on Friday night.

The team elected to keep rookie Albert Almora Jr. over their best pinch hitter Matt Szczur. In doing so, the Cubs took the hot hand over the player who's been with the team all year. Szczur was fifth in the National League in pinch hits with 12 but did not have a good September after hitting just .120 with a .154 on-base percentage. Meanwhile, Almora Jr. hit .321 with a .345 on-base percentage that month and is the superior defensive outfielder. Almora was the first draft pick of Theo Epstein after he took over the Cubs in 2011, going sixth overall the following summer.

The Cubs also elected to keep three catchers, as Miguel Montero played his way onto the roster in recent weeks while they declined to put their fifth starter, Jason Hammel, in the bullpen. Hammel has been hampered by an elbow injury anyway. Also left off the roster were veteran relievers Trevor Cahill and Joe Smith. Like Almora, rookie Carl Edwards Jr. emerged late in the season to claim a roster spot.

Here are the 11 pitchers and 14 position players who will participate in the NLDS:

Pitchers:

Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jake Arrieta, John Lackey, Justin Grimm, Edwards, Mike Montgomery, Travis Wood, Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman.

Position players:

Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant, Montero, Willson Contreras, David Ross, Javier Baez, Jorge Soler, Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward, Tommy La Stella, Chris Coghlan and Almora.