If the Chicago Cubs want to fix their lineup, it’s time for some drastic changes
The Cubs need to make a few notable moves to kickstart the offense this month.
The Chicago Cubs have scored 70 runs so far this season through 17 games. That is not what fans expected to see during what could be the final year of the current era of Cubs baseball.
The club is still rocking an 8-9 record so it is not like the sky is falling in Chicago. However, manager David Ross should look to make some changes to jolt some life into his lineup. The last thing the team wants is a slow start that leads the front office to give up on the season and make drastic changes.
So what are a few changes Ross should make? It all begins with placing a reliable player atop the order.
3. Move Anthony Rizzo into the leadoff spot
Rizzo has spent the majority of his career batting either third or fourth in the order. However, his best career splits come in the leadoff spot. He has a 1.005 OPS in the leadoff spot along with an impressive .327 batting average.
Rizzo is one of the more reliable players on the team and could give the offense a boost if Ross puts him atop the order, thus maximizing his at-bats per game. This is far more ideal than continue to rely on Ian Happ.
When in doubt, it never hurts to put a talented veteran atop the order. This does not need to be a permanent move either. But if it works, why change it? This could be Rizzo’s last year in Chicago so it doesn’t hurt to try everything to give the team the best shot at winning.