The Chicago Cubs open a series on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, and the aggressive approach the Cubs have had with their roster management has transferred over to Craig Counsell’s starting lineup.
Given the struggles Dansby Swanson has had to open the season, fans have been begging for Counsell to make a change. Counsell has routinely been hitting Swanson No. 5 in the Cubs’ starting lineup, with the hope that the veteran would break out of his slump.
Dansby Swanson has been pushed down in the Chicago Cubs’ starting lineup.
Swanson has been moved down to hitting eighth in the Cubs’ lineup. Replacing Swanson has the No. 5 hitter is first baseman Michael Busch. Busch, who has traditionally been hitting cleanup for the Cubs this season, has cooled down slightly since his hot start to the season. A hot start to the season has defined the beginning of Carson Kelly’s time with the Cubs. Kelly enters play on Tuesday with a slash line of .341/.517/.854/258wRC+ and 6 home runs.
The rest of the lineup is how Cubs fans have come to expect, with Ian Happ and Kyle Tucker at the top of the order. Nico Hoerner is in his familiar sixth spot with Pete Crow-Armstrong at No. 7 and Jon Berti rounding out the lineup.
As the Cubs look for ways to reset Swanson’s season, giving him time off was never going to be a realistic solution. Part of the issue with Swanson and his struggles has been his unwillingness to take himself out of the lineup when he has been hurt or struggling.
While on the topic of the Cubs’ lineup construction, moving Crow-Armstrong up in the order has been a popular debate among fans. Crow-Armstrong appears to be on the verge of reaching a superstar level as an offensive player, but it’s important to point out that the top of the Cubs’ lineup is thriving right now. In other words, if it’s not broke, there is no need to fix it.