Lefty struggles keep Ian Happ out of Cubs’ lineup as opportunity goes to trade-deadline get Tyrone Taylor
<p><b>Craig Counsell</b> wasn’t exactly harboring a secret about <b>Ian Happ</b>.</p><p>“Ian’s struggled against left-handed pitching this year, there’s no question,” the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a>’ manager said before Tuesday’s game.</p><p>For a second straight night against a Dodgers southpaw starter, the Cubs’ left fielder did not start in left field, out of the lineup partially as a break during the team’s stretch of 17 games in 17 days – and partially as an acknowledgement that the team has better options at this moment in time.</p><p>Perhaps no lefty in the game is as formidable as the one the Dodgers threw Tuesday night, their <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/03/cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-dodgers-tarik-skubal-tigers-jed-hoyer-trades-brewers-nl-playoffs-kevin-gausman-matt-shaw-injury" >earth-shattering trade-deadline acquisition</a> <b>Tarik Skubal</b>.</p><p>It hasn’t mattered, though, whether the left-hander Happ’s gone up against has been a two-time Cy Young winner or not. He hasn’t hit them, coming into Tuesday with a .530 OPS against lefties – only eight of baseball’s qualified hitters started the day with a lower mark – versus his .820 number against righties.</p><p>Counsell didn’t make this sound like a permanent banishment for the All Star and Gold Glover, one of the mainstays in the Cubs’ lineup.
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<p><b>Craig Counsell</b> wasn’t exactly harboring a secret about <b>Ian Happ</b>.</p><p>“Ian’s struggled against left-handed pitching this year, there’s no question,” the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a>’ manager said before Tuesday’s game.</p><p>For a second straight night against a Dodgers southpaw starter, the Cubs’ left fielder did not start in left field, out of the lineup partially as a break during the team’s stretch of 17 games in 17 days – and partially as an acknowledgement that the team has better options at this moment in time.</p><p>Perhaps no lefty in the game is as formidable as the one the Dodgers threw Tuesday night, their <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/03/cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-dodgers-tarik-skubal-tigers-jed-hoyer-trades-brewers-nl-playoffs-kevin-gausman-matt-shaw-injury" >earth-shattering trade-deadline acquisition</a> <b>Tarik Skubal</b>.</p><p>It hasn’t mattered, though, whether the left-hander Happ’s gone up against has been a two-time Cy Young winner or not. He hasn’t hit them, coming into Tuesday with a .530 OPS against lefties – only eight of baseball’s qualified hitters started the day with a lower mark – versus his .820 number against righties.</p><p>Counsell didn’t make this sound like a permanent banishment for the All Star and Gold Glover, one of the mainstays in the Cubs’ lineup. But with outfielder <b>Tyrone Taylor</b> in on a trade-deadline deal with the Mets, there’s somewhere else to turn, for the moment, at least.</p><p>Team president <b>Jed Hoyer</b> revealed Monday that Taylor fulfilled what was on Counsell’s deadline wishlist: a right-handed hitter he could bring off the bench, something the Cubs were lacking with utility man <b>Matt Shaw</b> sidelined for the last month and a half with a hand sprain that refuses to go away.</p><p>Taylor arrived Tuesday with a .301 batting average and a .900 OPS in 77 plate appearances against lefties this season.</p><p>“Ian’s still going to play against some lefties,” Counsell said. “But Tyrone gives us somebody, he’s going to get at-bats against left-handed pitching, for sure, and we’ll just take it from there.”</p><p>A night earlier, <b>Kevin Alcantara</b> started in left field.
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- What's the story?
- <p><b>Craig Counsell</b> wasn’t exactly harboring a secret about <b>Ian Happ</b>.</p><p>“Ian’s struggled against left-handed pitching this year, there’s no question,” the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a>’ manager said before Tuesday’s game.</p><p>For a second straight night against a Dodgers southpaw starter, the Cubs’ left fielder did not start in left field, out of the lineup partially as a break during the team’s stretch of 17 games in 17 days – and partially as an acknowledgement that the team has better options at this moment in time.</p><p>Perhaps no lefty in the game is as formidable as the one the Dodgers threw Tuesday night, their <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/03/cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-dodgers-tarik-skubal-tigers-jed-hoyer-trades-brewers-nl-playoffs-kevin-gausman-matt-shaw-injury" >earth-shattering trade-deadline acquisition</a> <b>Tarik Skubal</b>.</p><p>It hasn’t mattered, though, whether the left-hander Happ’s gone up against has been a two-time Cy Young winner or not. He hasn’t hit them, coming into Tuesday with a .530 OPS against lefties – only eight of baseball’s qualified hitters started the day with a lower mark – versus his .820 number against righties.</p><p>Counsell didn’t make this sound like a permanent banishment for the All Star and Gold Glover, one of the mainstays in the Cubs’ lineup.
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Lefty struggles keep Ian Happ out of Cubs’ lineup as opportunity goes to trade-deadline get Tyrone Taylor
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