On Tuesday night, the Chicago Cubs will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
It will mark the second game of the series, after the Cubs lost the series opener 2-1, extending their losing streak to nine games.
Outfielder Ian Happ registered one walk in the loss.
Chicago Cubs Make Ian Happ Decision
For Tuesday’s game, the Cubs have announced their lineup.
P. Crow-Armstrong CF N. Hoerner 2B M. Busch 1B A. Bregman 3B I. Happ LF S. Suzuki RF M. Ballesteros DH C. Kelly C D. Swanson SS
J. Wicks SP
Underdog MLB wrote: “Cubs 5/26 P. Crow-Armstrong CF N. Hoerner 2B M. Busch 1B A. Bregman 3B I. Happ LF S. Suzuki RF M. Ballesteros DH C. Kelly C D. Swanson SS J. Wicks SP”
After batting second in his return to the lineup on Monday’s game, Happ was moved down to fifth. He went 0-for-3 in Monday’s game with one walk and one strikeout.
Happ is now batting .211 with 39 hits, 10 home runs, 35 runs, 20 RBI’s and two stolen bases in 50 games.
Regarding Ian Happ’s struggles during the month of May, manager Craig Counsell said after the game, “I mean, he’s, it’s it’s, Ian goes through phases of hot and cold like every other hitter does. Um, you know, I think he’s just, but his strength is the ball-strike recognition and then being able to handle that part of it.
And he’s just really caught in between, and looks a little bit, looks really caught in between. The fastball is kind of beating him, the breaking ball he’s way out front. Um and he’s, they’re throwing a lot of strikes and he’s behind in the count kind of constantly. Feels like he’s facing 0-2, 1-2 every at bat.”
Cubs vs Pirates
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates have also announced their lineup for Tuesday’s game.
Underdog MLB wrote: “Pirates 5/26 K. Griffin SS B. Lowe 2B B. Reynolds LF N. Gonzales 3B O. Cruz CF M. Ozuna DH E. Valdez RF S. Horwitz 1B H. Davis C B. Ashcraft SP”
The Pirates have also struggled recently, going 4-6 in their last 10 games. Left-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft will make his eleventh start of the season. He has been a bright spot in the Pirates rotation as he has gone 3-2 with a 2.89 ERA across 62.1 innings. Ashcraft was dominant in his last outing, as he allowed only one run across seven innings against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jordan Wicks will be the starter for the Chicago Cubs. He has not made any appearances this season for the Cubs. In three previous seasons, the left-handed pitcher posted a 5.21 ERA across 95 innings, which included 17 starts. Wicks has started seven games for the Cubs triple-A affiliate this season, posting a 4.44 ERA.
Social Media Reactions
The Chicago Cubs lineup announcement was met with the following reactions on social media:
@RadCarlsbad23: “Absolutely crazy Happ is still hitting middle of the lineup. He should not be any higher than 7th.”
@Zach_Prosperi: “What does Kevin Alcantara have to do? Happ shouldn’t be anywhere near the top of the order”
@Rosebud67074095: “Why is Happ hitting cleanup!? Doesn’t Counsell watch these games. Should hit 8th or 9th…..the streak continues…”
@Cubies1986: “Fans can whine about the lineup all they want but its these guys all need to hit. This is their best 9 guys. If they don’t hit it won’t matter what the lineup is. And Alcantara isn’t the savior”
Chicago Cubs Announce Ian Happ Decision Amid Pirates Series