CLEVELAND — Jake Arrieta's dominating performance Wednesday night reinvigorated confidence the Cubs have in the depth of their pitching staff.

Now if they can find compensate for the likely full-time loss of Kyle Schwarber without a designated hitter for Games 3, 4 and 5 of the World Series at Wrigley Field their championship prospects may swell.

In an effort reminiscent of some of his starts during his 2015 National League Cy Young Award season, Arrieta didn't allow a hit until he gave up two in the sixth inning. But the Indians could score only one run in his 52/3 innings as the Cubs topped the Indians 5-1 at chilly Progressive Field to even the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.

Schwarber continued his amazing recovery from left knee surgery with two hits, including a pair of RBI singles while serving as the DH for the second consecutive game.

The Cubs knocked out nine hits and patiently drew eight walks. But in the next three games Schwarber likely will be limited to pinch hitting with no DH in the National League park..

Manager Joe Maddon said before the game that it would be up to the doctors to decide whether Schwarber, who tore two knee ligaments on April 7 and wasn't supposed to return until spring training, would be cleared to play defense.

But Schwarber, who has yet to work in the outfield since being cleared to hit and run Oct. 17, wasn't keen on the idea after Tuesday's game.

For his part, Arrieta seemed immune to the blustery conditions as he declined to wear a long-sleeved shirt under his jersey and promptly dominated the Indians after issuing two walks with two out in the first.

Jason Kipnis got the Indians first hit, legging out a one-out double in the sixth.

Left-hander Mike Montgomery again showed his value as he induced Jose Ramirez to ground back to the mound to get Arrieta out of a jam in the sixth after a second hit. In the seventh, Montgomery struck out three — capped when he whiffed Carlos Santana on a breaking pitch with runners at first and second

After being blanked in Game 1, Maddon opted for a lineup that featured right-handed batters Jorge Soler and rookie Willson Contreras against Trevor Bauer. Four Cubs starters 25 or younger — Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Schwarber and Addison Russell — collected hits.

The Cubs worked Bauer for several deep counts, while the Indians committed a few untimely miscues.

Anthony Rizzo smacked a double down the right field line in the first, and Bryant scored easily from first when right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall threw to second base instead of toward home.

Ben Zobrist fouled off six consecutive pitches during a 10-pitch at-bat in the first.

Rizzo helped give Arrieta a larger cushion when he fouled off five consecutive pitches before working reliever Zach McAllister for a walk with one out in the fifth.

“We wore them down,” Dexter Fowler said. “If it's not one guy, it's another guy. Rizz was that guy.”

Zobrist and Schwarber followed a triple and single, respectively for RBIs, and a Kipnis error set up a bases-loaded walk to Addison Russell off reliever Bryan Shaw.

The fact that the Cubs were back to their regular season method of working deep counts and generating timely hits meshed well with their preparation under postseason conditions with restricted access accompanied by heavy media postgame obligations.

“I kind of like the structure,” Maddon said. “It limits some of their exposure to everything. For me, if I have to do what I have to do (with media obligations), it's fine as long they don't. That's how I kind of feel they can focus on the game. I'm OK with the structure right now, knowing my pecking order of the day.

“They really need to focus on themselves and getting ready for the game. The structure permits all that.”

Kluber to start Game 4: Less than 20 hours after Corey Kluber's dominant performance helped shut out the Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series, Indians manager Terry Francona announced the Cubs will have to face the ace again sooner than expected.

Kluber will come back on three days' rest to pitch Game 4 at Wrigley Field on Saturday, matching up with Cubs right-hander John Lackey.

Francona said he lifted Kluber after a leadoff single in the seventh and went to reliever Andrew Miller with the future schedule in mind.

Kluber threw only 88 pitches, and Francona said his pitch counts this month have been light.

“I just didn't want to put ‘Klubes' in a tough spot by saying that (plan) before he pitched (Tuesday),” Francona said. “If something came up and he wasn't ready to make that start, I didn't think it was fair to him. He's all set to pitch.”

Francona said Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin also are slated to come back on short rest, if needed, for Games 5 and 6 for an Indians pitching staff that injuries depleted this year. Th

Kluber, who also could pitch on short rest in a Game 7, struck out nine over six scoreless innings Tuesday and has posted a 3-1 record, 0.74 ERA and 29 strikeouts over four starts this postseason.

But the Cubs said Wednesday they weren't thinking about having to face him again yet.

“The stuff he had last night was pretty impressive,” Cubs catcher David Ross said.

Before Kluber, the Cubs will have to get through Tomlin in Game 3 as the series shifts to Wrigley Field on Friday. Tomlin won both of his postseason starts. He will face Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks, who has given up three earned runs over 161/3 innings this postseason.

Colleen Kane contributed