2 months agoAccording to Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic, Chicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ could open the season as the leadoff hitter. Happ saw time as the leadoff man last season but eventually ceded that role to
Pete Crow-Armstrong during the second half of the season. Sharma noted that manager Craig Counsel "wants to keep the pressure off" Crow-Armstrong and ensure that he continues to develop. As a result, Happ has a good opportunity to open the season in the top spot in the batting order. Sharma also noted that second baseman
Nico Hoerner could also be an option, but he may not be ready for Opening Day due to an elbow injury. Last season, Happ posted a .243/.341/.441 slash line with a career-best 25 home runs and 13 stolen bases. Given his elite on-base skills, Happ could produce a high total of runs while batting in front of
Kyle Tucker and
Seiya Suzuki.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Sahadev Sharma
7 months agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ (back) has returned to left field and will bat leadoff on Tuesday in Game 2 of the series at Citizens Bank Park against the Philadelphia Phillies and left-handed opener
Tanner Banks. Happ is returning to the lineup after missing the last two games due to tightness in his lower back, but apparently he's feeling good enough to go on Tuesday. The 30-year-old switch-hitter has hit .250 (35-for-140) with seven of his 25 home runs on the year against southpaw pitchers. He's batting .284 (23-for-81) with two home runs, a double, a triple, nine RBI and two stolen bases in 19 games in the month of September, but he's also gone hitless in three of his last four games before sitting out a few games with his back injury. Happ will be a nice DFS target against a Phillies team expected to be hungover on Tuesday after celebrating winning the National League East on Monday night.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Cubs
7 months agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ (back) remains out for the series opener on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. With Happ out again,
Mike Tauchman will start in left field and bat leadoff for the Cubbies against Phillies right-hander
Aaron Nola. Happ was scratched from Chicago's lineup on Sunday in the series finale against the Washington Commanders due to lower-back tightness and will now miss a second straight game. The 30-year-old left-handed slugger should be considered day-to-day for the final week of the regular season. Happ needs one more home run to set a new career-high mark of 26 and is one steal shy of his previous career-high in that category, which he set in 2023. Happ already has a career-high 85 RBI in 148 games this year. Tauchman is in a nice lineup spot but has a tough matchup against Nola for DFS purposes.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 months agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ continued his strong offensive September in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics. Happ went 3-for-5 with a single and a pair of solo home runs. The 30-year-old took
Mitch Spence deep to right field in the third inning and lined a ninth-inning, 103-mph
Mason Miller fastball just over the left-field wall for his 25th home run of the season. Happ has put together his best offensive month in September, slashing .308/.357/.446 with two homers, nine RBI, and two stolen bases in 65 at-bats. The Cubs have been one of baseball's hottest lineups lately, so Happ could be a bat that fantasy managers could lean on to finish the season on a high note.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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