Ian Happ’s Mental Breather Amid Cubs’ Slump

On May 24, manager Craig Counsell removed outfielder Ian Happ from the Cubs’ lineup for the second consecutive game against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field. The move was described as a “mental breather,” with plans to reinstate Happ on Monday’s series opener versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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The Cubs entered the Astros series on a seven-game losing streak, their longest since 2022, after a 3-0 loss on Saturday. The slump continued into an eight-game skid after being swept by the Astros and Milwaukee Brewers, prompting lineup experimentation.

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Ian Happ, a switch-hitting outfielder, has been a regular starter. Manager Craig Counsell oversaw the decision. Prospect Pedro Ramírez, who posted a .312/.395/.547 slash line with a .942 OPS in Triple-A Iowa, earned his first MLB start at second base. Left-hander Shota Imanaga, who allowed eight earned runs in 4.1 innings in his previous outing, was slated to pitch.

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Happ’s May line: .188 batting average, 34 strikeouts, six RBI. Season totals: .214 average, 39 hits, 10 home runs, 35 runs, 20 RBI, two stolen bases, .779 OPS. The Cubs’ losing streak is reported as seven games by some sources and eight by others. Ramirez’s Triple-A stats include 19 stolen bases. The Astros have posted a .243 batting average against left-handed pitchers and .247 against right-handed pitchers this season.

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Team communications confirmed that Counsell instructed Happ to sit out Saturday and continue pre-game work, labeling the absence a “mental breather.” The lineup announcement listed Pedro Ramírez at second base and kept Shota Imanaga on the mound, with the expectation that Happ would return on Monday in Pittsburgh.

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Fans voiced sharp criticism on social media. One user urged that Happ be placed on the injured list or designated for assignment, while another labeled him “washed up.” Additional comments questioned the Cubs’ options for Happ and expressed frustration over the ongoing losses.

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Sources differ on the length of the Cubs’ losing streak—seven games according to the Astros series preview and eight games in the Pirates series preview. No official clarification was provided, leaving the exact count ambiguous.

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• “Imanaga SP” Regarding why Happ is out of the lineup, Jared Wyllys posted on X: “Ian Happ is out of the lineup for the second straight game for a mental breather.” — Jared Wyllys, X post

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• “You’ll have to ask the manager.” — Ian Happ, post-loss interview

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• “We’ve got a really great group, really experienced group. We’ll come out the other side of it.” — Ian Happ, pre-game comment

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• “Ian Happ should be placed on the IL or better yet, DFA’d but we all know they are just going to send Moises Ballesteros down. ?” — @PCA4FC, Twitter

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The Cubs open a four-game series at PNC Park on May 25. Manager Craig Counsell intends to slot Happ back into the lineup against the Pittsburgh Pirates while continuing to evaluate Pedro Ramírez’s impact and Shota Imanaga’s pitching adjustments.

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