Chicago Cubs fans received a major hint in Monday night’s series opener that Craig Counsell was done watching Ian Happ bat from the right side of the plate. Kevin Alcántara was called up and started in left field, with Happ staying on the bench as left-handed pitcher Justin Wrobleski made the start for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Happ did come into the game, pinch-hitting in the sixth inning once the Dodgers went to a right-handed reliever, and that appears to be the game plan moving forward for the Cubs.
It’s not a full-on benching, but Happ will be platooned in the final couple of months of the regular season. Looking ahead, it’ll be the newly acquired Tyrone Taylor who will be making the starts in place of Happ in left field whenever there’s a left-handed starter on the mound.
On Tuesday, Counsell was on The Score and said Taylor will be in the starting lineup against Tarik Skubal, adding that the team will try to limit Happ’s plate appearances against lefties for the rest of the 2026 season.
It was only a matter of time before the Cubs reached this decision, and that’s also why adding Taylor in the Clay Holmes trade shouldn’t be overlooked.
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In 125 plate appearances against left-handed pitching in 2026, Happ is slashing .158/.232/.298 with a 34.4 K% and a 48 wRC+. Since May 20, Happ is only 8-for-60 vs. LHP with 25 strikeouts in 65 plate appearances. So, you absolutely love to see that the Cubs’ newest outfielder mashes left-handed pitchers.
Taylor has a slash line of .301/.311/.589 with five home runs and a 146 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers before he was traded to the Cubs.
Fans might be wondering why it took so long to get another player to fill in for Happ, but you’re going to suddenly stick Pedro Ramirez in the outfield with minimal experience. The biggest factor here was Matt Shaw’s injury, because he has excelled against left-handed pitching in his career and theoretically could translate his defensive ability in right field to left.
Unfortunately, Shaw has been sidelined with a wrist injury since June 28. So, trading for Taylor at the deadline now gives Counsell a stronger platoon partner for Happ. I know fans want Alcántara to get more opportunities, and he did homer on Monday, but the 24-year-old has struggled in his brief MLB time, so going to Taylor, who has a decent track record, protects against a rookie not being able to contribute.
