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The Chicago Cubs are in the middle of the All-Star break, but there are some lingering lineup questions that will need to be solved once the season resumes on Friday. Within the last week, Craig Counsell made the decision to not only move Ian Happ down in the starting lineup against left-handed hitters, but also right-handed hitters as Michael Busch was the leadoff hitter during the Cubs' victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday.
Over the last month, Happ is slashing .170/.294/.330 with a wRC+ of 82. Happ is still getting his walks, walking at 15.1 percent clip, but that isn't enough to justify him remaining in the leadoff spot. Time will tell if Happ returns to being the leadoff hitter against right-handed hitters, but it seems the change to Nico Hoerner leading off against left-handed hitters will remain in effect.
Happ spoke with 670 The Score's Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris on Tuesday, and reflected on being moved down in the Cubs' starting lineup.
“Whatever the team needs and however I can help this lineup mesh the best, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Ian Happ on being moved out of the Cubs’ leadoff spot: “Whatever the team needs and however I can help this lineup mesh the best, that’s what I’m going to do.” pic.twitter.com/NyAlEDzCIP
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) July 15, 2025
Ian Happ responds to Cubs lineup change with unselfish answer
Chances are, by the end of the season, Happ's numbers will be identical to the production he has put up in recent years. Entering this season, Happ's last three wRC+ totals were 122 in 2022, 119 in 2023, and 121 in 2024. Happ has been no stranger to cold spells, as each season, there seems to be several weeks where his offense goes dormant.
The difference this season, as opposed to recent years, is that the Cubs have two All-Stars in their lineup carrying the production that is currently missing in Happ's game. Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong have each had MVP-caliber offensive seasons, and there's also Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch being among the best bats in the National League this season. In other words, in a season where the Cubs don't need Happ to be the guy, they not only can withstand to move him down in the lineup, they can withstand his offensive struggles as a whole.