Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo joke that leadoff spot is cursed after injury
By Scott Rogust
Kris Bryant hit the injured list on Saturday
The Chicago Cubs are having a surprising start to the 2020 MLB season. Considering that this very same roster missed out on the playoffs last year, the Cubs currently hold a commanding lead over their rivals in the NL Central. But, injuries have caught up with the Cubs, as third baseman Kris Bryant hit the injured list on Saturday with a left ring finger sprain.
Prior to Sunday’s matinee game against the Chicago White Sox, Bryant said he’d be willing to move down the batting order. On top of that, Bryant said that Anthony Rizzo joked that the Cubs’ leadoff spot is “cursed.”
If there’s any team that knows about curses, it’s the Cubs.
Kris Bryant (finger/wrist injury) says he'd have no problem moving down in the order when he returns. Says Rizzo jokingly called the lead-off spot on the Cubs 'cursed."
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) August 23, 2020
Is Chicago’s leadoff spot cursed?
The Cubs haven’t had much luck in the leadoff spot since Dexter Fowler left following their World Series-winning campaign in 2016 for the massive deal offered by the rival St. Louis Cardinals. Entering the 2020 season, new manager David Ross named Bryant the leadoff batter, and it didn’t yield the desired result for both parties.
Through 16 games, Bryant has a poor .177 batting average, .271 on-base percentage and .323 slugging-percentage, while recording two home runs and four RBI. Those are his numbers as of Friday, after he was sidelined with his current injury.
In his absence, Ross pivoted to second baseman Ian Happ to bat leadoff, and it’s worked out pretty well so far. Entering the Sunday afternoon matchup, Happ is slashing .296/.418/.617 with six home runs, 24 hits, 15 RBI and 16 walks. So far, the curse isn’t affecting the veteran second baseman.
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Once Bryant returns from his stint on the injured list, we virtually guarantee that Ross won’t be itching to place him back in the number one spot in the batting order. That honor belongs to Happ, aka “the Curse-Breaker.”