Chicago Cubs manager confirms that key outfielder won’t lose his spot in the order

The Chicago Cubs closed out there past week with a 2-4 record in their two separate three game sets that they played in. They began the week at home against the Giants and the series began with plenty of promise for the group that entered the week with a comfortable lead in the NL Central. The offense came to play in their first game of the season against San Francisco, as they clubbed out a couple of home runs and took their walks in a five-run sixth frame that carried them to victory.

The Cubs got a huge victory in the second game of the Mets’ series over the weekend where top pitching prospect, Cade Horton, made his big league debut. However, the group couldn’t capture the series win at Citi Field, as they fell once again on a Sunday in this season. The lineup saw some movement in the final two games of this series, as one of their key cogs was out due to injury.

Craig Counsell confirms that Ian Happ will still bat leadoff

Despite Ian Happ missing a couple of games due to injury, manager Craig Counsell assured the media that the veteran would not lose his spot as the leadoff man in the order when he returns. Amid a breakout season, Pete Crow-Armstrong was called upon to step up and take Happ’s place as the leadoff man in the final two games of the Mets series. The 23-year-old clubbed out his 10th home run of the season on Sunday in Chicago’s 6-2 loss and showed some promise in his new temporary role in the lineup.

Even though fans have been wanting Crow-Armstrong to bat leadoff for quite some time, it is clear that Happ is the perfect tone setter for this club. The former first-round draft choice of the organization is slashing .269/.364/.381 with a .745 OPS in 39 games. He also slugged out three homers and has driven in 16 runs so far in 2025.

The Chicago Cubs outfield has been one of the best in baseball

Kyle Tucker and Crow-Armstrong have been fun to watch this season, and Happ playing up to his ceiling when he returns from this day-to-day oblique injury would be the cherry on top. Tucker has been everything the Cubs hoped he could have been and more, as he is already proving to be one of the best hitters in baseball so far this season.

Crow-Armstrong rightfully earned the nod to fill in for Happ in the leadoff role, as his bat exploding early on in the campaign has been the best part of Chicago’s season. The speedy center fielder currently leads the team in home runs with 10 and has driven in 28 while making noise on the bath paths this year. Crow-Armstrong could be the x-factor that this team needs in their pursuit of the NL pennant, and he has earned himself a lot of money in the process.