Cubs can’t have Kris Bryant batting anywhere other than second

While the Cubs offense continues to leave much to be desired, there is one guy who could be moved around in the order due to his early success in Kris Bryant. Bryant has seemingly regained much of his old form after a couple less-than-stellar seasons while dealing with myriad minor injuries that sapped him of his strength and power.

Cubs: Numbers indicate Kris Bryant should be higher in the lineup consistently

Not that anyone else in the Cubs lineup is on fire in the early going, but Bryant has been getting on base, driving the ball and should probably be moved back to the two-hole he has occupied through much of his career in the big leagues.

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With his ability to find his way on through hits and walks, base-running prowess and early success this season, it makes all too much sense to push him up in the lineup and insert him in the two hole permanently.

Cubs skipper David Ross has inserted Bryant into the two hole against lefties when Willson Contreras leads off, but Bryant is too good against both lefties and righties to move anywhere else down in the order.

Ross has moved Bryant around the two, three, and four holes, but getting the three-time All-Star the most at-bats possible in every game should be the priority. For that matter, Ross should stick with Happ in the leadoff spot regardless of starter handedness, much the way he did in 2020 when Happ broke out.

Again, it’s not like Bryant can do it all himself, but with the former MVP looking healthy and productive, it’s time for him to be hitting second all the time. Granted, early season stats are the very definition of small sample size, yet Bryant’s slash line of .259/.375/.630 shows he’s primed for a big season and needs as many at bats as Ross can get him.

Barring injury or some other bizarre occurrence, this move can only be seen as beneficial, and a little certainty or stability might just be the thing this lineup is looking for early in the season.