Cubs Tweak Lineup as Offensive Struggles Persist

On Saturday, manager Craig Counsell altered the Chicago Cubs’ starting lineup against the Houston Astros. Left fielder Ian Happ was given a day off, while center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong was promoted to the leadoff spot. Second baseman Nico Hoerner moved to the fourth position, Michael Conforto shifted to the fifth spot, and the club called up infield prospect Pedro Ramírez and outfielder Kevin Alcantara for future usage.

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The Cubs entered the season among the league’s top run-scoring teams, but a recent stretch has produced six consecutive defeats. The club ranks second in on-base percentage but 26th in batting average with runners in scoring position (RISP). Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and shortstop Dansby Swanson have collectively posted RISP averages of .143, .130 and .170, respectively, contributing to the slump.

FanSided

Happ’s overall batting average remains modest, and he is 1-for-24 in his last 24 plate appearances, with a .143 RISP average. Suzuki’s .130 RISP average is the fourth-worst among qualified hitters. Swanson’s .170 RISP average also lags league-wide. Crow-Armstrong recorded a two-run homer on Friday, his sixth of the season, but his OPS has fallen from .768 in 2025 to .686 this year.

FanSided

Counsell described the adjustments as a low-effort attempt to “give guys a different look” and to provide Happ a brief respite. He emphasized that the team’s collective struggles are “hurting” but noted that “all the guys know they’re going through this.” Counsell also confirmed that Kevin Alcantara remains on the roster and will receive playing time when opportunities arise.

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Analyst commentary from Fansided argues that moving Happ to the leadoff spot would better exploit his .353 on-base percentage and reduce the impact of his high-leverage strikeouts. The same analysis suggests placing Conforto in the fourth position, where his recent .988 OPS in limited RISP opportunities could be maximized. The piece characterizes the current changes as insufficient to address the underlying RISP deficiency.

FanSided

• “I think shake-up is probably the thing we were after. Just giving guys a different look in terms of when they are going up there.” — Craig Counsell, Cubs manager

ESPN

• “The thing that was most clear from yesterday was we needed to give Ian a break,” — Craig Counsell, Cubs manager

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• “When there are spots to get him in there, absolutely.” — Craig Counsell, Cubs manager

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• “It's just giving everyone a different look," Counsell said.” — Craig Counsell, Cubs manager

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The Cubs will face the Astros again on Sunday and continue the series against Milwaukee the following week. Counsell indicated that further lineup experimentation, including potential starts for Alcantara and Ramirez, remains possible as the club seeks to reverse its losing streak.

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