The Chicago Cubs boast the highest-scoring offense in Major League Baseball, averaging 5.77 runs per game, with strong production both at home (5.82 runs per game) and on the road (5.73). Their recent 6–5 victory over the New York Mets underscored their consistent ability to generate offense in any setting.
Cubs left fielder Ian Happ attributes the team’s success at the plate to the depth and balance of their lineup, highlighting a blend of veteran experience and emerging talent.
In a recent interview on the Rahimi & Herron Show, Happ emphasized that the team’s ability to produce from any spot in the batting order creates a sense of shared responsibility and confidence that carries them through the long grind of a 162-game season.
However, the Cubs may now be facing a challenge of their own, as Happ was held out of Saturday’s game due to discomfort in his oblique, which he first noticed during an at-bat on Friday.
He has been listed as day-to-day, and while the team is hopeful the issue is minor, oblique injuries are notoriously tricky and have sidelined several players across MLB this season.
The Cubs are already dealing with oblique issues in their pitching staff — most notably starter Javier Assad, who recently suffered a setback and was placed on the 60-day IL.
Losing Happ for any significant stretch could have major implications for Chicago. Not only has he served as the team’s primary leadoff hitter, but he’s also been a steady contributor to an offense that has powered the Cubs to a 23–17 record and first place in the NL Central.
Happ has spoken about the “contagious belief” that exists in the lineup — a mindset that no matter the inning or situation, someone will step up and deliver.
That sense of collective confidence has helped the Cubs stay consistent at the plate, but without Happ, they may be tested in ways they haven’t yet faced this season.