Ian Happ
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2021Crushers141510561096319417641540140.2140.3060.367
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2023Storm1586096513673461135816411030.2230.2960.366
2024Storm1585618112365372179014815000.2190.3310.383
2025Storm207361766019212000.2330.3170.356
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 25 2025Happ went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and a walk in Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old left fielder continued his June power surge, launching his ninth long ball of the month. Happ may be hitting a modest .240 over his last 19 games, but he has the aforementioned nine homers, two doubles, 20 RBI, 11 walks and one stolen base across these 75 at-bats. With the big bats of Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong working behind him, Happ should continue to see his fair share of pitches to hit from the leadoff spot.
Jun 22 2025Happ went 2-for-4 with two homers, one walk and four RBI in Saturday's 10-7 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ got things going early Saturday with a leadoff homer, then followed it up with a three-run blast in the second inning. While his season power numbers are respectable -- a .423 SLG and 25 extra-base hits -- the left fielder has ramped things up in June, slugging .600 with 10 extra-base hits, including four homers in the last three games.
Jun 15 2025Happ went 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 3-2, 10-inning win over the Pirates. He also stole a base. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ did a little bit of everything from the leadoff spot to help lead the Cubs to another victory. The veteran now has four stolen bases this season in five attempts, so he'll have to get going to reach last year's total of 13 steals. Despite running a bit less, Happ remains a solid fantasy commodity due to his position atop a strong Chicago lineup and his well-rounded stat line.
Jun 10 2025Happ went 2-for-3 with two walks, two home runs, three RBI and three total runs scored in Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ led the way in a big Chicago victory with his first multi-homer game of the season. The veteran outfielder is in a bit of a power surge with four long balls in his last six games, giving him seven for the year. Happ seems to be heating up, as he's boosted his OPS from .709 to .742 this month, and he figures to keep posting strong stats in a formidable Cubs' lineup.
Jun 9 2025Happ went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's 4-3, extra-innings loss to the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ hit a game-tying home run in the eighth inning, his fifth of the year and second in his last five games, but the Cubs would fall 4-3 in 11 innings. The veteran outfielder now has a .706 OPS for the season, and judging by his .789 career mark, he could be poised for a strong finish to 2025. Across his eight previous MLB campaigns, Happ's post-All Star break OPS is 21 points higher than his pre-break OPS.
Jun 5 2025Happ went 3-for-6 with a double, a home run and four RBI in Thursday's 7-1 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was an excellent table setter Thursday as he extended his modest hitting streak to three games. The leadoff hitter also popped his fourth home run of the season in the sixth inning with a runner on. Happ is starting to heat up with a .294 batting average over his last eight games, and he figures to keep producing useful stats from the top of Chicago's potent lineup.
May 31 2025Happ went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ broke open the scoring in the bottom of the eighth inning when he crossed the plate on a Seiya Suzuki double. Happ came into the contest batting only .184 over nine games since returning from the injured list on May 20, but the veteran's track record suggests he'll get things going soon, and he should stick as Chicago's primary leadoff option due to his ability to consistently get on base with hits or walks.
May 27 2025Happ went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-innings win over Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was Happ's first multi-hit game and extra-base hit since coming off the injured list, which is an encouraging sign given his slump since returning from an oblique strain. Over his last seven outings, the veteran outfielder is hitting just .194 (6-for-31) with two RBI, six runs scored, three walks and one stolen base. Fantasy managers should remain patient with Happ, who is still looking to get his timing back at the plate.
May 20 2025The Cubs activated Happ (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ missed the minimum 10 days on the injured list after last playing May 9. In Happ's absence, Pete Crow-Armstrong has moved up to the leadoff spot for the Cubs and produced big numbers, so it will be interesting to see how manager Craig Counsell sorts out his order moving forward. Prior to his injury, Happ slashed .269/.364/.381 with three home runs, 19 RBI, 29 runs scored, two stolen bases and a 24:35 BB:K across 187 trips to the plate.
May 19 2025Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Happ (oblique) will be activated from the 10-day injured list during the team's series in Miami that runs through Wednesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is eligible for activation Tuesday and presumably will return that day. Moises Ballesteros is off to a 1-for-12 start at the plate and it seems likely that he will be the corresponding move for Happ, with Seiya Suzuki moving from left field back to the designated hitter spot.
May 13 2025Happ (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The move is retroactive to May 10. Moises Ballesteros is making his big-league debut Tuesday while Seiya Suzuki shifts to the outfield in Happ's absence. Happ is hitting .269 with three home runs, two steals, 29 runs and 19 RBI in 39 games.
May 12 2025Happ (oblique) will require a stint on the 10-day injured list, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The club has yet to make this move official, but Happ will miss at least the next 10 days after being diagnosed with an oblique injury. Moises Ballesteros is set to be promoted in a corresponding move.
May 11 2025Happ (oblique) played catch and took swings prior to Sunday's game and could return to the lineup as soon as Monday against the Marlins, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is on the bench Sunday for the second day in a row due to oblique discomfort, but his ability to take part in on-field work suggests his injury is minor. He'll be re-evaluated when the Cubs return home Monday before a decision is made on his availability.
May 10 2025Happ isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mets due to an oblique injury, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ's oblique reportedly began bothering him after his first at-bat in Friday's contest, but he was able to play through it for the rest of the night. The Cubs will sit him down Saturday as a precaution and start Seiya Suzuki in left field while Justin Turner serves as the DH.
May 6 2025Happ went 0-for-4 with one walk, one hit-by-pitch and four strikeouts in Tuesday's 14-5 extra-innings loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ entered Tuesday's game with a career-low 16.8 percent strikeout rate and a seven-game hitting streak. He was able to get on base twice in his six plate appearances but struck out in the other four (three swinging). It was a disappointing performance for Happ, but he's still enjoying a strong start to the season and is slashing .279/.369/.765 with one stolen base, 29 runs scored, three home runs and 19 RBI in 179 plate appearances.
May 5 2025Happ went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in a 9-2 win over the Giants on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ kicked off the scoring for Chicago with a two-run homer in the third inning and added a sacrifice fly in the sixth. The long ball extended his hitting streak to seven games, a stretch in which he's batting .407 with five RBI and seven runs. Happ's overall .287 batting average is on pace for a career-high mark, but he's lacked in the power department so far with just three homers through 36 games.
May 1 2025Happ went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, an RBI and two runs in Thursday's 8-3 win against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was an ideal leadoff man Thursday as he reached in four of five plate appearances, which is the third time he's been on base at least four times in a game this season. The 30-year-old isn't hitting for much power early in 2025 with just two homers through 32 contests, but he's still been a productive lineup piece with nine doubles, 26 runs and a .279/.365/.390 slash line.
Apr 30 2025Happ went 2-for-4 with a two-run single and a run scored in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ put the Cubs on the board with a two-run single in the fifth inning, and he came around to score later in the frame on a wild pitch from Ryan Borucki. After going 5-for-28 in March, Happ ended the month of April with a .288/.353/.385 slash line with one stolen base, 20 runs scored, one home run and 11 RBI in 116 plate appearances.
Apr 18 2025Happ went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and two total runs scored in Friday's 13-11 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ helped propel the Cubs to a 7-1 lead with his grand slam in the seventh inning, which was his second home run of the season. Chicago would proceed to allow 10 runs in the eighth but still rally to win. The veteran Happ is starting to get going after a slow start. Over his last eight games, he's gone 12-for-35 with three extra-base knocks.
Apr 13 2025Happ went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double and two runs scored in Saturday's 16-0 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was one of six Chicago players will multiple hits as the Cubs cruised to a stunning road victory over the defending World Series champions. The veteran outfielder came into the night batting just .194, raising his average 28 points with the performance. Happ has batted below .250 each of the last two seasons, so he shouldn't be expected to climb too much more in that category, but he typically offsets that with his on-base skills and power production.
Apr 5 2025Happ went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Friday's 3-1 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs only had three hits as a team, and Happ provided most of them from the leadoff spot in an effective performance. The veteran outfielder is off to a bit of a slow start, batting .214 with a .630 OPS through 10 games, but he should be able to get going. Happ has had an OPS of .750 or better in each of his previous eight MLB seasons.
Mar 28 2025Happ went 2-for-5 with a walk, a double, a home run, two runs scored and three total RBI in Thursday's 10-6 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ batted leadoff and led the way for the Cubs in the team's first game in the U.S., after they started the season with a two-game set in Tokyo. The veteran outfielder collected a hit in each of those games, and Thursday he recorded his first multi-hit performance as well as launching his first home run of the year. Happ should remain at or near the top of Chicago's lineup, and over the last four seasons he's averaged about 22 homers, 11 steals, 77 RBI and 77 runs.
Feb 2 2025Happ is a top option to begin the regular season as the Cubs' leadoff hitter, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic report. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ hit in a number of lineup spots last year, though he appeared most frequently (66 times) as the leadoff man. Pete Crow-Armstrong has the speed to be an effective leadoff hitter but has yet to display consistent on-base skills, and Chicago manager Craig Counsell said his "gut" tells him that Crow-Armstrong won't start the season atop the order. Happ is a natural option to turn to, though Nico Hoerner and others could be in the mix as well.+
Sep 24 2024Happ (back) is starting in left field and batting leadoff Tuesday against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old sat out the past two games due to lower-back tightness but is good to go for Tuesday's contest. Happ has a .284/.333/.395 slash line with two homers, two steals, nine RBI and 11 runs through 20 games in September.
Sep 23 2024Happ (back) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game in Philadelphia. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was scratched from the lineup ahead of Sunday's 5-0 win over the Nationals because of lower-back tightness and will miss a second straight start Monday. He is considered day-to-day. Mike Tauchman will play left field and bat leadoff in Happ's stead.
Sep 22 2024Manager Craig Counsell said after Sunday's 5-0 win over the Nationals that Happ was scratched from the lineup due to lower back tightness, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was set to start in left field and bat in the leadoff spot, but his back issue forced him to sit for Sunday's series finale, and the 30-year-old outfielder is considered day-to-day with the injury. Since Sept. 1, Happ has slashed .284/.333/.395 with two home runs and nine RBI over 87 plate appearances.
Sep 19 2024Happ went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in Thursday's 7-6 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's game, but before that he had hits in six straight contests, and he got back into a groove on Thursday. The veteran outfielder has already set or tied career highs with 25 home runs and 85 RBI this season, and his OPS is sitting above .800 for the first time since 2020. Happ has also played in 146 games so far, putting him within reach of the 150-game plateau for the third straight year, which is a testament to his durability.
Sep 17 2024Happ went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ did his part to keep Chicago in the game, including blasting his second home run of the game and 25th of the season in the ninth inning to get the Cubs a little closer, but it wasn't quite enough to secure a much-needed win. The veteran has now matched his career high of 25 long balls, which he last recorded back in 2021. He also set a new career high with his 85th RBI of the year on Tuesday, surpassing the 84 RBI he recorded in 2024. Happ has 11 team games remaining to try to set a new long ball benchmark.
Sep 14 2024Happ went 2-for-5 with one RBI and two stolen bases in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ notched his fourth multi-hit effort over 12 games in September. He's 14-for-51 (.275) in that span, though he's supplied just two extra-base hits. The outfielder is up to 13 steals this year, one off his career high from last season. He's added a decent .244/.342/.450 slash line with 23 home runs, 82 RBI and 83 runs scored across 141 games.
Sep 2 2024Happ went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ hit just his second triple of the season as he continued to serve as an effective tablesetter for the Cubs. The veteran outfielder is batting a scorching .386 over his last 10 games with eight extra-base hits and 10 RBI. With a prominent spot in a productive lineup, Happ should continue to post good counting stats the rest of the way, especially if he keeps up his recent level of play.
Aug 28 2024Happ went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, two RBI and two walks in Wednesday's comeback win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ led off the game with a double off Pirates ace Paul Skenes, later coming around to score on a Cody Bellinger single. Happ helped the Cubs erase a seven-run deficit Wednesday, driving in runs in the eighth and ninth innings to propel the team to victory. The 30-year-old has enjoyed a productive August as the Cubs leadoff man, batting .267 with six home runs, 12 RBI, 17 runs scored, eight doubles and four stolen bases in 24 games.
Aug 26 2024Happ went 2-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases in Monday's 18-8 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ somehow managed not to score despite serving as the leadoff man and reaching three times in the offensive explosion. Despite the lack of counting stats, it was still a productive night for the outfielder, as he reached 11 stolen bases on the season. Happ's career high in steals is 14, which he posted last year, and he may be able to surpass that figure yet in 2024.
Aug 25 2024Happ went 3-for-5 with two doubles and one RBI in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ had half of the Cubs' hit and also knocked in their second run with a ninth-inning double. He's hit safely in 12 of his last 15 games, going 17-for-60 (.283) with six home runs, 10 RBI and four doubles in that span. The outfielder is up to a .234/.339/.458 slash line with 23 homers, 72 RBI, 74 runs scored, 29 doubles and nine stolen bases over 124 contests this season, though his hitting has often been streaky.
Aug 23 2024Happ went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in Friday's 6-3 win against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ took Max Meyer deep in the third inning for his 23rd home run of the season. Happ has been particularly good as of late on the road, with four home runs in his last seven games away from Wrigley. The 30-year-old has been in the middle of a power surge with six homers in his last 13 games and nine overall since the All-Star break.
Aug 17 2024Happ went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ launched a 413-foot leadoff home run to give the Cubs the early lead. After going just 1-for-18 to open August, the 30-year-old has gone deep five times while registering a hit in eight consecutive contests. On the season, he is hitting .233 with 22 homers, 69 RBI, 70 runs scored and nine steals across 490 plate appearances.
Aug 16 2024Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a stolen base and three total runs scored in Friday's 7-6 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ's been swinging the bat well of late -- he extended his hit streak to seven games, going 9-for-28 (.321) with four homers and nine runs scored in that span. Overall, the 30-year-old outfielder is slashing .233/.340/.452 with 21 homers, 68 RBI, 69 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 486 plate appearances this season.
Aug 12 2024Happ went 1-for-2 with three walks, a two-run home run and two additional runs scored in Monday's 9-8 loss to the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ celebrated his 30th birthday in style as he reached the 20-homer plateau for the second straight season and third time in the last four years. The outfielder also demonstrated his good eye at the plate as he drew three walks in a game for the first time this season. Happ is now riding a four-game hitting streak as well, and he's gone deep three times during the hot streak.
Aug 10 2024Happ went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-6 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ took the fourth pitch of the game from Garrett Crochet deep for his 19th home run of the season and second in as many games. The veteran outfielder is closing in on his second consecutive 20-homer campaign, which would be the fourth of his career. Happ's career high in home runs is the 25 he recorded back in 2021. If he keeps up his recent power surge, that figure could be in sight soon.
Aug 7 2024Happ went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Twins. He also stole a base. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was busy despite only recording the one hit. The veteran is up to 18 home runs this season, bringing him closer to his second straight 20-homer campaign. He also now has eight stolen bases, and he could reach double figures in that category for the second time in his career after swiping 14 bases in 2023. Happ isn't always the flashiest fantasy option, though he's been a steady performer once again in 2024, and he plays nearly every day.
Aug 5 2024Happ (shoulder) will bat leadoff and start in left field Monday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hap was scratched from the lineup ahead of Sunday's 6-2 win over the Cardinals with shoulder soreness, but the injury won't cost him more than one game. The outfielder enters Monday's contest having gone hitless with five strikeouts in his last 11 at-bats.
Aug 4 2024Happ was scratched from Sunday's lineup versus the Cardinals due to a sore shoulder, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is dealing with a sore shoulder after running into the outfield wall in Saturday's loss. He can be considered day-to-day for the time being while Mike Tauchman will take over in left field and bat sixth in the series finale with St. Louis.
Jul 31 2024Happ went 3-for-4 with a walk, a two-run home run and three total runs scored in Wednesday's 13-4 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ batted leadoff and helped pace the Cubs in the blowout victory. The outfielder now has 17 long balls this season, bringing him closer to the 20-homer plateau for the second straight year. Happ also pushed his OPS up to .785, which is in line with the .782 and .791 figures he posted in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The 29-year-old has turned into a steady fantasy contributor who plays almost every day.
Jul 22 2024Happ went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Monday's 3-1 victory against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Chicago outfielder slugged a 377-foot solo shot off Tobias Myers in the sixth inning for his 16th homer of the season. After a hitless weekend in 12 at-bats against Arizona to open the second half, the long ball was a welcome sight for Happ. Across 67 plate appearances this month, the switch-hitter is now hitting .271 (16-for-59) with five homers, 11 runs scored and 15 RBI. Happ is locked in as an everyday player for the Cubs, playing left field and hitting cleanup.
Jul 14 2024Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has enjoyed a productive July so far, going 15-for-46 (.326) with four homers and 13 RBI over 13 games. The outfielder is up to 15 homers, 57 RBI, 53 runs scored, 23 doubles and seven stolen bases while slashing .243/.352/.548 through 92 contests. Happ has maintained his starting role in left field even through cold stretches, so there's little risk of him losing playing time once this hot streak ends.
Jul 9 2024Happ went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, a walk and two runs scored in Tuesday's 9-2 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ stayed hot at the dish as he singled, walked and then crushed a three-run blast in his first three at-bats on Tuesday. It was Happ's 14th homer of the season, but more importantly, his eighth and 25th RBI over his last 22 games. For the season, the 29-year-old is hitting .244/.358/.455 and continues to be an everyday lock in the middle of the Cubs lineup.
Jul 6 2024Happ went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in Friday's 5-1 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A day after going 4-for-4 at the plate, Happ remained hot. The outfielder has eight RBI over the last two games, bringing his season total to 52. He had a career-high 84 RBI last year, and Happ could make a run at that total in 2024 if he maintains something close to his recent level of production.
Jul 4 2024Happ went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double and six RBI during Thursday's 10-2 win against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ blasted his 12th dinger in the fourth with a three-run blast from the right side of the plate that put the Cubs on the board, then turned around and repeated the feat from the left side of the plate in the fifth. It was the second multi-homer game of the season for Happ while the six RBI represent a season high. Happ, who entered the day batting 6-for-38 (.158) over the last 12 games, raised his season average from .227 to .238 with 13 homers, 20 doubles, 50 RBI, 47 runs and seven steals.
Jun 30 2024Happ went 1-for-2 with a walk, a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ broke open a 3-3 tie with his two-run shot in the top of the eighth inning, the outfielder's 11th home run of the season. Two nights earlier, Happ had another big two-run homer, this time to break open a 3-3 tie in the 10th. Overall, the veteran is riding a four-game hitting streak, collecting the two long balls and five total runs scored during the brief hot stretch.
Jun 27 2024Happ went 1-for-3 with two walks and a two-run home run in Thursday's 5-3, 10-inning win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ reached base twice via walks earlier in the contest, but it was his home run in the 10th inning that proved critical. The outfielder broke open a 3-3 tie with his 10th long ball of the year, and the Cubs held on for the victory. Happ has now reached double figures in homers in each of his eight MLB seasons, making him a steady if not spectacular fantasy contributor across his career.
Jun 19 2024Happ went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has been on a heater recently, as he now has five straight two-hit performances. The outfielder has gone deep three times during the hot streak, giving him nine home runs for the season. Happ won't be able to stay this locked in forever, though fantasy managers should enjoy the production while it lasts.
Jun 17 2024Happ went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Monday's loss to San Francisco. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ's seventh-inning, three-run homer snapped a 3-3 tie and appeared to give the Cubs a comfortable advantage, but the Giants scored three runs in the ninth to pull out the win. Nonetheless, Happ continued to break out of his recent slump -- over his past three contests, he's gone 6-for-9 with two homers, six RBI and three walks. Prior to the three-game stretch, Happ endured a rough span of eight contests during which he went 2-for-28 with 10 strikeouts.
Jun 15 2024Happ went 2-for-3 with a walk and a three-run home run in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old outfielder took John King deep in the seventh inning, Happ's first homer in June. The performance snapped a 1-for-24 slump over his prior seven games, and on the season he's slashing .218/.328/.376 over 65 contests with seven homers, five steals, 32 runs and 33 RBI.
Jun 13 2024Happ is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has had a rough road trip, collecting just one hit. He'll rest for the final game of the trip as Mike Tauchman draws the start in left field for the Cubs.
Jun 9 2024Happ went 1-for-3 with a double, three RBI, two walks and two stolen bases in Sunday's 4-2 win over Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ slugged a bases-clearing double in the first inning and stole multiple bases for the first time this season. The switch-hitting Happ has now collected three steals over his past five games, upping his season total to five. If Happ can continue his recent success on the basepaths, his fantasy value will receive a tremendous boost. On the season, the 29-year-old is batting .222 with six home runs, 30 RBI, 31 runs scored and five stolen bases across 258 plate appearances.
Jun 4 2024Happ went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ had his first three-hit effort since April 16 and his last hit was his biggest, a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning that turned a one-run deficit into a one-run lead for the Cubs. While the outfielder is batting just .232 on the season, he's up to .303 over his last 10 games, and his track record suggests he should continue to trend upward.
Jun 1 2024Happ went 1-for-3 with a walk, a two-run home run and three total RBI in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ did his best to keep the Cubs in the game, launching his sixth home run of the season in the second inning, then walking home a run with the bases loaded in the fifth. The outfielder has gone deep four times over his last six games, and he has a robust 1.184 OPS during the stretch. Happ's overall numbers don't look as good, but he's worth riding with while he's hot.
May 29 2024Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and two total RBI in Wednesday's 10-6 loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is 5-for-15 over his last four games, and three of those hits have left the yard. The outfielder had only two home runs across 47 games before this recent hot streak, but he blasted 20 or more long balls in two of the last three seasons, so it wouldn't be surprising to see his power production continue to trend upward.
May 27 2024Happ went 2-for-3 with two home runs, a walk and three RBI in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ's two home runs were the only source of offense for the Cubs in Sunday's loss. He first had a two-run shot off Andrew Kittredge in the seventh before following that up with a solo blast against Ryan Helsley in the ninth. Happ doubled his home run total on the season and put together his first multiple RBI effort since April 16. He now has six hits over his last five games but is still slashing just .224/.335/.362 with 15 extra-base hits, 17 RBI, 25 runs and a 27:57 BB:K in 203 plate appearances.
May 25 2024Happ isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will sit down Saturday despite going 4-for-11 with three doubles and a run scored during Chicago's previous series against Atlanta. Mike Tauchman will fill the void in left field, allowing Christopher Morel to serve as the Cubs' designated hitter while Patrick Wisdom starts at third base.
May 23 2024Happ went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's 3-0 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is batting just .221 (15-for-68) in May, but he's also recorded both of his steals for the year this month. The veteran outfielder has a career-worst .652 OPS and .218 batting average over 46 contests while adding two home runs, 14 RBI and 23 runs scored. While he's struggling to find a rhythm at the plate, Happ continues to hold down a starting job in left field.
May 15 2024Happ is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Atlanta, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is on the bench for the second game in a row, so he could be dealing with an unreported injury. Mike Tauchman will cover left field in Happ's stead Wednesday.
May 14 2024Happ is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The switch-hitter is better from the left side of the plate, so it makes sense to give him a breather as Atlanta sends southpaw Chris Sale to the hill. Mike Tauchman will occupy left field for the Cubs.
May 11 2024Happ went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 7-2 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is off to a bit of a slow start this season, as he's batting just .231 overall with a .661 OPS, but he's been better in May. The outfielder is batting .281 this month with a .707 OPS. What's keeping him from really taking off is a lack of power. Happ is still stuck on just one home run through 36 games after clubbing 21 long balls last year. His fantasy value will remain capped until he starts driving the baseball a bit more.
Apr 23 2024Happ (hamstring) is starting in left field and batting second Tuesday against the Astros, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old sat out Saturday and Sunday with hamstring soreness after exiting Friday's contest, but he's ready to retake the field following Monday's team off day. Happ has been in a slump over his past nine games, going 4-for-35 after he posted a .933 OPS in his first 40 at-bats of the campaign.
Apr 21 2024Happ (hamstring) is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was removed from Friday's game against Miami due to left hamstring tightness, and he didn't play in either of the doubleheader games Saturday. In Happ's absence, Alexander Canario will start again in left field and bat ninth against Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera. Happ did note before Sunday's game that he is available off the bench and believes he'll be ready for Tuesday's series opener against the Astros, per Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network.
Apr 19 2024Happ was removed from Friday's game against the Marlins due to tightness in his left hamstring, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Craig Counsell said the decision to remove Happ from the game was precautionary, as he missed time during spring training due to a strain in the same hamstring. The 29-year-old's status for the weekend remains unclear, though it's certainly possible he sits down for a game or two in order to properly recover.
Apr 17 2024Happ went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and two additional runs scored during Tuesday's 12-11 extra-inning loss to Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ's first homer of 2024 came in crunch time, as the seventh-inning homer put the Cubs ahead by three runs. It was Happ's second game of the season with three or more hits while his three runs scored marked a season high. Tuesday's contest also snapped Happ's slump, as he entered the game 1-for-20 (.050) over his previous five games.
Apr 6 2024Happ went 1-for-4 with a walk, a triple, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 9-7 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Batting leadoff for the fifth time in seven games, Happ served as an effective tablesetter, and he recorded his first triple of the season as well. The outfielder is in a good position to produce atop a potent Chicago lineup, which could allow him to surpass the career-high 86 runs he recorded last season. Happ now has six runs scored so far this year.
Mar 31 2024Happ went 4-for-5 with a double, a walk, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 9-5 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was able to reach base five times Sunday, including with an RBI-double in the fourth inning. He has now reached base in each of the first three games of the season, going 5-for-12 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and two walks.
Mar 25 2024Happ (hamstring) will start in left field and bat leadoff in Monday's Cactus League game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will be making his fourth start in eight days but just his third in left field since he was shut down for a little over two weeks earlier this month due to a left hamstring strain. Following Happ's most recent start this past Thursday, manager Craig Counsell said that the outfielder had plateaued in his recovery from the hamstring strain, but Happ's presence in the lineup four days later suggests he's still on track to be ready to go for Thursday's season opener versus the Rangers. The Cubs could continue to exercise some caution with Happ early in the season by giving him more starts as a designated hitter rather than a left fielder, and the hamstring issue may naturally result in him being less active as a base stealer after he pilfered a career-high 14 bags in 2023.
Mar 23 2024Manager Craig Counsell revealed Saturday that Happ's recovery from a left hamstring injury has plateaued and that he will be held out of the Cubs' lineup until Monday against the Cardinals, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has gone hitless over his last two spring training games and is slashing .111/.158/.167 with one RBI over 18 at-bats. Counsell said that Happ's availability for Opening Day is not in jeopardy "right now," but the outfielder will sit out for the rest of the weekend.
Mar 19 2024Happ (hamstring) is starting in left field and batting sixth in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old started at designated hitter Sunday in his first Cactus League action since Feb. 29 due to a hamstring strain, and he's now back to playing the outfield. Happ will get in a few games during the final week of spring training and should be ready to go for Opening Day next week.
Mar 17 2024Happ (hamstring) will serve as the Cubs' designated hitter and leadoff batter in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will return to the lineup for the first time since Feb. 29 after missing the past two and a half weeks while recovering from a right hamstring strain. The Cubs will ease Happ back into the mix in a non-defensive role, but assuming he's able to resume patrolling left field at some point later this week, he should be ready to handle an everyday role when the team opens its season March 28 in Texas.
Mar 13 2024Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Happ (hamstring) remains on track to be ready for Opening Day, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has been held out of spring games all month with a left hamstring injury, and it's not clear when he might return. However, Counsell insists the club is just being careful, adding that Happ should be ready to go for the season-opening game versus the Rangers on March 28.
Mar 6 2024Happ (hamstring) was able to take part in batting practice Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Stepping in to face live pitching is a promising sign that Happ is making progress in his recovery from a left hamstring strain, though the real test for the outfielder will come when he starts running the bases at full speed. Though Happ doesn't appear particularly close to drawing back into the Cubs' Cactus League lineup, the team is still optimistic that the 29-year-old will be ready to go by the time Opening Day arrives.
Mar 5 2024Happ (hamstring) has resumed some light baseball activity, though the Cubs are being cautious with the outfielder leading up to the regular season, MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ may not see much more Cactus League action, but it seems like he should be fine for the start of the regular season even if he only appears in a few more exhibition games. "The most important thing is that we just get Ian enough at-bats before Opening Day to be in a good spot offensively," manager Craig Counsell said. The veteran played in 158 games each of the last two years and should take on a similar workload in 2024 if he can stay healthy.
Mar 2 2024Manager Craig Counsell revealed Saturday that Happ has a mild left hamstring strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Counsell is optimistic that Happ will be ready for Opening Day, but the outfielder has no timeline to return to spring training games. Happ slashed .248/.360/.431 with 21 home runs and a career-high 84 RBI over 691 plate appearances in 2023.
Oct 1 2023Happ is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ started the past 56 contests with the Cubs pushing for a spot in the playoffs, but he'll take a seat Sunday after being eliminated from contention. The 29-year-old inked a three-year extension with Chicago in April and had a strong start to that contract with a .791 OPS, 21 homers, 14 stolen bases, 84 RBI and 86 runs in 158 games.
Sep 27 2023Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two total RBI in Wednesday's 6-5, extra-inning loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ and Mike Tauchman each went deep in the third inning, giving the Cubs a 3-1 lead for the moment. The former is up to 20 long balls this season, which is the third time in his seven-year MLB career that he's reached the plateau. Happ would need a remarkable finish over the final four games of the regular season to match his career best of 25 home runs, set back in 2021. He has already set a new career high with 81 RBI this year.
Sep 20 2023Happ went 2-for-5 with a double and a grand slam in Wednesday's 13-7 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ got the Cubs back in the game with his fifth-inning grand slam, but the team's pitchers couldn't hold Pittsburgh down. The veteran outfielder now has 19 home runs this year, which is six away from trying the career high he set back in 2021. Happ has already established a new career high with his 77 RBI so far this season.
Sep 17 2023Happ went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs only mustered seven hits as a team, with Happ recording nearly half of them as he extended his hitting streak to four games. The outfielder was also the only Chicago player with multiple hits in the contest. Happ is now batting .246 for the season, which is a step back from the career-best .271 mark he registered last year, though he has already surpassed his 2022 home run and RBI totals.
Sep 15 2023Happ went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ snapped a 13-game homer drought, during which he hit a paltry .188 (9-for-48). His blast got the Cubs on the board in the ninth inning and nearly sparked a comeback, though the rally fell short. The outfielder has maintained a .241/.357/.417 slash line with 18 homers, 73 RBI, 77 runs scored and 14 stolen bases -- those counting starts are all career highs, but his ratios are on the lower end of his career performance through 145 contests this season.
Sep 6 2023Happ went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ went 0-for-7 in the first two games against San Francisco, but he bounced back Wednesday, and the outfielder has been mostly solid lately. Over his last 10 games, he's batting .324 with two home runs, six runs scored and nine RBI. Happ typically occupies a key spot in Chicago's lineup and should continue to have opportunities to produce as long as the Cubs keep clicking on offense.
Sep 4 2023Happ went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and four RBI in Sunday's 15-7 victory over the Reds. He also stole a base. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was all over the place in Chicago's rout, giving him 13 stolen bases this season and pushing his batting average to .248, to go along with a .794 OPS. The outfielder has been much better lately, batting .368 with a robust 1.208 OPS over his past 10 games with three long balls and 13 RBI in that time. It's been a solid year overall, and Happ is seemingly poised to give fantasy managers a boost down the stretch.
Sep 2 2023Happ went 3-for-7 with two walks, a double, a home run, two runs scored, three RBI and a stolen base across both games of Friday's doubleheader split with the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder did most of his damage in the matinee, providing the Cubs with some insurance runs in the ninth inning with a two-run blast to right-field on the first pitch he saw from Derek Law, but he also drove in a run and swiped a bag in the nightcap. Happ has reached base safely in 17 straight games, slashing .288/.365/.606 over that stretch with 11 extra-base hits (five doubles, two triples and four homers), 12 runs and 15 RBI.
Aug 28 2023Happ went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Chicago managed just five hits as a team, with Happ and Patrick Wisdom going deep for the only offense against Wade Miley and three Milwaukee relievers. Happ is now up to 16 home runs for the season, and he's riding a six-game hitting streak. During the streak, he's gone deep twice and tallied six RBI, pushing him to 64 RBI this year. The outfielder is closing in on the 17 home runs and 72 RBI he posted in 2022.
Aug 25 2023Happ went 2-for-4 with one double and a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ led off the ninth with a home run off Pirates' closer David Bednar to cut the lead to one. Happ also doubled to record his first multi-hit effort since Aug. 11. For the season, Happ is now slashing .241/.359/.411 with 15 home runs, 60 RBI, 66 runs scored and 11 steals over 543 plate appearances.
Aug 15 2023Happ went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ got the Cubs started with his 14th home run of the season in the first inning, but the team didn't do much from there. The outfielder has only 10 hits this month in 13 games, giving him an even .200 batting average in August, though four of those hits have left the park. Happ could reach 20 home runs for the third time in his career at this rate, even if his batting average scuffles.
Aug 6 2023Happ went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's win over Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ continued his power surge, as he now has five home runs over his last 10 games, getting him to 13 long balls on the season. The outfielder hit 17 homers last year, which seems within reach, though he may be harder pressed to reach his career high of 25 home runs, which he set back in 2021.
Aug 2 2023Happ went 2-for-4 with a walk, two solo home runs and three runs scored in Wednesday's 16-6 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is heating up a bit with four home runs across his last seven games, bringing him to 12 for the season. The outfielder had 17 long balls a season ago, which seems within reach if he keeps this up. His career high of 25 home runs might be harder to match, however. Either way, fantasy managers are enjoying this recent level of production.
Jul 29 2023Happ went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer run and a walk Saturday in a 5-1 victory versus the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ plated the first runs of the game for Chicago with his two-run shot off Adam Wainwright in the third inning. The long ball gave the outfielder 10 homers on the season, a mark he has accomplished in all seven of his big-league campaigns. Happ has reached base in eight straight games and is batting .310 (9-for-26) with two homers, four RBI, 11 runs, a steal and a 7:6 BB:K over that span.
Jul 26 2023Happ went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Wednesday's win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ delivered an RBI single in the fifth inning, then followed up with his ninth home run of the season in the eighth. He had 25 long balls in 2021 but dipped to 17 last year and could fall below that figure in 2023 given his current pace. Despite the drop in power production, Happ should remain locked into a key spot in Chicago's lineup moving forward.
Jul 23 2023Happ went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and three runs scored in Saturday's win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ needed a game like this, as he came into the contest batting just .190 in July. The outfielder's track record suggests he'll bounce back, and his .760 OPS isn't far off from the .782 mark he posted in 2022. Happ should maintain a key spot in Chicago's lineup and could be primed for a hot streak following his prolonged slump.
Jul 17 2023Happ went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's loss to the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ went deep in the sixth inning against MacKenzie Gore, giving him eight long balls this season. It was Happ's first home run since he went deep twice back on June 24. After hitting 17 bombs in 158 games last year, the 28-year-old has some work to do to match or surpass that total in 2023, as it's taken him 91 games to hit his eight home runs.
Jul 2 2023Happ is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is just 1-for-18 over his past six games and will take a seat Sunday after making 12 straight starts. Mike Tauchman will man left field and bat leadoff in the series finale versus Cleveland.
Jun 24 2023Happ went 2-for-5 with two solo home runs in Saturday's win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ looked right at home in London, as he hit his sixth and seventh long balls of the season. It was his first game this year with multiple home runs and it pushed his OPS to .816, which would be the outfielder's best mark since 2020. Happ should continue to post solid numbers from the middle of Chicago's order.
Jun 20 2023Happ went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored in Tuesday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was the only Chicago player with multiple hits Tuesday as he snapped an 0-for-11 streak coming into the day. The outfielder has cooled off some since recording an .853 OPS through April, though his .263 batting average and .786 OPS overall are in line with his .271 average and .782 OPS from last year. Happ should continue on as a solid fantasy contributor who plays most days for the Cubs.
Jun 16 2023Happ is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will get a breather after he went 5-for-12 with four extra-base hits, including a homer, eight RBI and five runs scored over the Cubs' three-game series with the Pirates. The 28-year-old has been hot at the plate recently, recording at least one hit in eight of the last 11 games, posting a .438 on-base percentage over that stretch. Patrick Wisdom will replace him in left field and bat seventh in the series opener with Baltimore.
Jun 15 2023Happ went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was all over the bases in this one, finishing a home run shy of the cycle. It was the outfielder's first multi-hit effort since May 30, and it pushed his season batting average to .268 to go along with a .796 OPS. Happ has slowed down some overall after a hot start to the season, though he remains capable of strong fantasy performances like this one.
Jun 14 2023Happ (calf) will serve as the Cubs' designated hitter and cleanup batter in Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ exited late in Tuesday's 11-3 win with a right calf injury, but he won't have to miss any starts. The Cubs will look to protect Happ to some degree by deploying him in a non-defensive role, as Christopher Morel takes Happ's usual spot in left field.
Jun 13 2023Happ left Tuesday's game versus the Pirates with a calf injury, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cubs manager David Ross said Happ's calf "grabbed on him" and felt tight when he came out of the game . Ross also said that Happ didn't seem too concerned, but he added the outfielder should be considered day-to-day at this stage.
Jun 1 2023Happ went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a steal in Wednesday's loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ drove in Nico Hoerner with an RBI single in the first inning to open the scoring before swiping his fifth bag of the year. The 28-year-old Happ is now 3-for-7 in his last two games after going through a 4-for-31 slump over his previous nine contests. Overall, Happ's put together a solid campaign, slashing .278/.394/.418 with four homers, 19 runs scored and 22 RBI while batting toward the top of Chicago's lineup,
May 30 2023Happ went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Neither team got much going on offense, but Happ was still able to contribute. The outfielder continues to be a solid fantasy asset with an .818 OPS across 53 games. That would be his best mark since the shortened 2020 campaign, when Happ recorded an .866 OPS over 57 games. His counting stats haven't been great this year with four home runs, 18 runs scored and 21 RBI, though they'll likely trend upward if he continues to make consistent contact.
May 12 2023Happ went 3-for-5 with a double in Friday's 6-2 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has maintained a hot bat in May, going 14-for-39 (.359) over 11 games this month. This was his fifth multi-hit effort of the month, and his third game with at least three hits this year. The outfielder is slashing .311/.430/.481 with four home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs scored and four stolen bases through 37 contests.
May 6 2023Happ went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Friday's 4-1 win over the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His fifth-inning shot off Edward Cabrera proved to be the difference in the game. Happ has reached base safely in 13 straight games and he continues to deliver as the No. 3 hitter for the Cubs, slashing .300/.422/.491 through 31 contests with four homers, four steals, 14 runs and 17 RBI.
May 1 2023Happ is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is likely receiving a routine maintenance day after he started in each of the Cubs' last six games. Nelson Velazquez will start in left field in Happ's stead.
Apr 4 2023Happ went 3-for-4 with two walks, a double, two runs scored and an RBI in Tuesday's 12-5 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ filled the stat sheet, which he's been doing regularly so far in the early going. Through five games, the outfielder is 7-for-16 with a home run, two RBI and six runs scored. Happ looks poised for a big season in the middle of Chicago's order, which has shown renewed life with the additions of Dansby Swanson, Eric Hosmer and Cody Bellinger.
Apr 2 2023Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is off to a good start early in 2023, as he's gone 3-for-6 across two games with the home run. The outfielder hit 17 long balls and tallied a career-best 72 RBI last season, and he should once again be one of Chicago's top offensive performers this year from the middle of the lineup.
Mar 30 2023Happ went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in Thursday's win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Dansby Swanson starred for the Cubs with three hits in his team debut, but Happ was also effective from the No. 3 spot in the lineup. The outfielder batted a career-best .271 last season, which coincided with a career-low 23.2 percent strikeout rate. If Happ continues to show improved plate discipline, including taking walks, he should be in for another strong campaign in 2023.
Mar 12 2023Happ went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ hit his first Cactus League home run in 22 at-bats, and he's now batting a robust .364 this spring with a 1.007 OPS. The outfielder delivered 17 long balls and a .782 OPS for the Cubs last season, and he's primed to serve as a key offensive piece for the team again in 2023. Happ may also bat leadoff on occasion this year, though he'll likely spend more time in a run-producing spot, with Nico Hoerner typically hitting first.
Mar 3 2023Happ may bat leadoff on occasion in 2023, though Nico Hoerner looks like the primary option for the role, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hoerner has batted leadoff most frequently so far in Cactus League action, and manager David Ross seems to like the infielder as his tablesetter. However, Happ does have experience batting first during his tenure with the Cubs. Last year, he saw his most time in the No. 3 spot, which set Happ up to record a career-high 72 RBI.
Jan 14 2023Happ signed a one-year, $10.85 million deal with the Cubs on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ's deal with the Cubs means he avoided arbitration and will now be a free agent following the 2023 season. He slashed .271/.342/.440 in the 2022 campaign, while accumulating 17 home runs and 72 RBI. The 28-year-old also went 9-for-13 on stolen base attempts. He projects to start in left field entering the year.
Oct 2 2022Happ went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Sunday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ recorded his first three-hit game since Aug. 25 with his 42nd double of the season and two singles Sunday. Happ also recorded an RBI which in fact came via a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the first inning to give him 72 on the season, a career high. Through 155 games this season, Happ is slashing .275/.347/.447.
Sep 30 2022Happ went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in Friday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has been solid all season for the Cubs, as he's now batting .272, and he leads the team with 72 runs scored. He also paces the squad with 71 RBI, and his 17 home runs are good for third. Happ has cut down on strikeouts this year, which has helped him produce fairly consistently since Opening Day, and the .272 average would be a new career best.
Sep 25 2022Happ went 2-for-5 with a double, a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI in an 8-3 win Sunday in Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ doubled in the fifth and drove in a run with a single, stole second and scored in the seventh. It was the ninth stolen base of the year for the Mt. Lebanon native and his second this month. He continues to dominate his hometown club and has a .316/.405/.558 line in 310 career plate appearances against the Pirates.
Sep 14 2022Happ isn't starting Wednesday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ started the last four games and went 4-for-14 with a home run, two doubles, three runs, two RBI and a stolen base. Nelson Velazquez (illness) will return to the lineup and start in left field Wednesday.
Sep 13 2022Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ got the second inning off with a bang as he took a 3-2 fastball from Jacob deGrom 407 feet to right field for his 17th long ball of the season. The solo shot got the Cubs on the board on their way to handing deGrom his second loss of the season. Happ also recorded a base hit in the top of the fourth. The multi-hit effort was a positive sign for the switch hitter, as he had gone just 2-for-18 in his previous five games.
Sep 11 2022Happ went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in Saturday's loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs had just seven hits and two runs, but Happ still managed to have a productive night. The outfielder has had a solid season with an .802 OPS and 65 RBI across 135 games, and he's managed to up his batting average to .274 after hitting just .226 in 2021. Chicago is in a rebuilding mode, and Happ and Willson Contreras (ankle) have emerged as their clear veteran leaders this year.
Sep 9 2022Happ isn't starting Friday against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is getting a breather after he went 1-for-15 with a solo home run, a walk and four strikeouts over the last four games. Nelson Velazquez will take over in left field and bat seventh.
Sep 6 2022Happ went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ got the scoring started for Chicago in the first inning with his 16th home run of the season. With just 27 team games remaining, the outfielder seems unlikely to match the career-best 25 long balls he recorded last year. However, Happ has increased his average and OPS in 2022 compared to 2021, so he's arguably been a more complete offensive player.
Sep 3 2022Happ went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in Saturday's loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ continued his strong recent play, as he's now batting .333 over his last 10 games with two home runs, five doubles and nine runs scored. The outfielder has been a bright spot for the rebuilding Cubs, boosting his OPS to a solid .810 mark with the two-hit performance. He should continue to produce from the heart of Chicago's order.
Aug 28 2022Happ went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Sunday's 9-7 loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ keeps chugging along, as this was his third multi-hit effort in his last four games. He's easily set a new career high with 34 doubles this season, and his .279 batting average would be a new career best if it holds up. Happ has established himself as a fairly reliable, veteran presence in the middle of Chicago's lineup, giving him plenty of fantasy appeal the rest of the way.
Aug 27 2022Happ went 2-for-4 with a pair of two-run home runs in a 4-3 extra-inning win over the Brewers on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ drove in all four of the Cubs' runs to give his team the close one-run victory. The two long balls give him 15 on the year to go along with 62 RBI. Happ's career-high RBI total came in 2017 when he accumulated 68. The 28-year-old left fielder is on pace to set a new career-best RBI mark with a little over a month remaining in the season.
Aug 21 2022Happ went 1-for-4 with one homer, one RBI and one run scored in Sunday's loss against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ got the Cubs off to an early 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the first against Brandon Woodruff, but it wasn't enough as the Cubs wen on to lose 5-2. This was Happ's fourth round tripper in his last nine games and his 13th on the season. He now owns a .279/.353/.452 slash line and leads the Cubs in hits to go along with seven stolen bases.
Aug 16 2022Happ is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ went 14-for-38 (.368) with three homers over his last 10 games, but manager David Ross decided to hold him out with the Cubs employing an all-righty lineup against Nationals lefty Patrick Corbin. Nelson Velazquez will take Happ's place in left field.
Aug 15 2022Happ went 2-for-3 with a walk and two solo home runs in Monday's loss to the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ wore out Washington starter Josiah Gray, taking the righty deep in the first and fifth innings. It was Happ's first game this year with multiple home runs. The Chicago outfielder now has 12 long balls this season to go with a strong .815 OPS. Happ perhaps surprisingly stayed put leading up to the trade headline, and he seems primed to finish the year strong for the Cubs.
Aug 14 2022Happ went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer and an RBI single in Saturday's win over Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ sent Nick Madrigal home on a single in the fifth inning, then sent Madrigal and Willson Contreras home on a three-run shot in the seventh. It was Happ's first home run of the month, his first since July 12, and his 10th of the season. The two-hit outing gives Happ four such performances in 10 games this month and extends his hit streak to five games. During that streak, Happ has gone 8-for-22, improving his batting average from .274 to .280 in the process.
Aug 4 2022Happ isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ started the first game of the doubleheader and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. He'll get a breather for the nightcap while Nelson Velazquez takes over in left field and bats sixth.
Jul 23 2022Happ went 4-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 15-2 win over Philadelphia. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ knocked an RBI single during the Cubs' six-run fifth inning followed by another in the eighth. Over his previous nine games, the 27-year-old was hitting just .206 with one multi-hit performance. Friday's big outing improved his season slash line to .281/.369/.448 with 44 RBI and 42 runs scored through 91 games.
Jul 17 2022Happ is starting as the designated hitter and batting third in Sunday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was ejected from the second game of Saturday's doubleheader for arguing balls and strikes. He went 0-for-7 across the twin bill, so he'll look to turn things around Sunday after a frustrating few games. The outfielder has still had a nice first half with an .811 OPS through 89 games along with nine home runs and 41 RBI.
Jul 16 2022Happ was ejected from the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets for arguing balls and strikes, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was 0-for-7 across the twin bill, and clearly had seen enough of the strike zone. While it was a frustrating day, Happ is still batting .274/.365/.446 this season, and is headed to his first All-Star Game as a reserve for the National League. Since he will likely be playing Tuesday, it's possible Happ could get a breather Sunday.
Jul 12 2022Happ went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs only mustered two runs, and Happ accounted for half of them in the first inning with his ninth home run of the season through 85 games. The outfielder hit a career-best 25 long balls last year, so he'll have to really get going if he wants to reach or surpass that figure. However, he's having a strong year overall with a .276 average and .824 OPS so far.
Jul 8 2022Happ went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was also caught stealing, the first time he'd been nabbed on the basepaths since June 19. The outfielder has only attempted two stolen bases since then and has attempted nine steals all season (successful on six of them), so speed isn't a huge part of his game, but he can run when needed. Happ has been fairly productive overall with a .282/.378/.454 slash line, eight home runs, 38 RBI and 38 runs scored across 81 games.
Jul 5 2022Happ went 1-for-4 with a walk, a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Brewers. He also stole a base. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ did a little bit of everything Tuesday, including notching his sixth stolen base of the season on eight attempts. He set a career high with nine steals last year and could top that number in 2022. As impressively, the outfielder is batting .283 after never hitting above .264 coming into the season. Happ has been a solid contributor for fantasy managers, as he also has eight home runs and 38 RBI across 79 games.
Jul 2 2022Happ went 3-for-5 with two doubles in Friday's win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite the three hits, Happ managed to not score or record any RBI in the 6-5 Cubs win. It was still a good performance for the outfielder, who has six hits across his last three games and is now batting .286 this year. Happ's career best for batting average in a season is .264, which he recorded across 58 games back in 2019. He hit just .226 across 148 games last year.
Jun 29 2022Happ went 1-for-2 with two walks, a double, a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ displayed good patience at the plate Wednesday and helped lead the Cubs to an 8-3 win. The outfielder is displaying a better eye at the plate this season, as he's walking roughly 13 percent of the time and has lowered his strikeout rate to 19.6 percent, which would be a new career best. As a result, Happ is also batting a career-best .275 at the moment.
Jun 22 2022Happ went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was replaced defensively by Nelson Velazquez in the bottom of the fifth inning with the Cubs up 10-1, but the former did some damage while he was in there. The outfielder went deep in the second inning with a runner on, giving him eight home runs and 34 RBI this season through 67 games. Happ also has a robust .870 OPS, making him a solid fantasy option in all formats.
Jun 20 2022Happ went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and an RBI in Monday's loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ recorded Chicago's only extra-base hit and RBI in the 12-1 loss. While his team struggles, the outfielder is enjoying a solid season at the plate so far with a .290 batting average and .855 OPS. The batting average would be a new career high for Happ, who hit just .226 last year. A key factor has been more consistent contact, as he's lowered his strikeout rate from 29.2 percent in 2021 down to 19.8 percent so far in 2022.
Jun 16 2022Happ went 3-for-4 with a walk in Wednesday's 19-5 loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Chicago has now dropped nine consecutive games, but it's been through no fault of Happ. The 27-year-old has slashed .361/.439/.583 during the losing streak and has now recorded at least one hit in all but one of his last 14 starts. He'll serve as Chicago's designated hitter and No. 3 batter in Thursday's series finale.
Jun 12 2022Happ went 3-for-3 with a walk, a triple, a solo home run and two runs scored in Sunday's loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was a bright spot in Chicago's 18-4 loss. The outfielder now has seven home runs and 30 RBI this season, and he's been locked in lately with a .378 batting average across his last 10 games. The Cubs are struggling at 23-36, but Happ should remain a strong fantasy contributor as one of the team's best hitters, particularly if he keeps swinging the bat like this.
Jun 11 2022Happ went 1-for-5 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 13-inning loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The stolen base, which came in the first inning after Happ singled against New York starter Luis Severino, was the fifth of the season for the outfielder on six attempts. He's never been a huge speed guy, as his career high for steals in a season is nine, which he recorded last year. If Happ keeps up his current pace, he may at least be able to top that mark and get to double figures for the first time.
Jun 5 2022Happ went 3-for-7 with two walks, two doubles, two RBI and a stolen base across both games of Saturday's doubleheader split with the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old was productive in both ends of the twin bill, but he did most of his damage in the Cubs' 6-1 win during the matinee. Happ has hit safely in six straight games, batting .450 (9-for-20) with three doubles, a triple and a homer during that stretch, and the tear has boosted his slash line on the season to .272/.377/.451 with six home runs, four steals, 27 runs and 29 RBI through 52 contests.
Jun 2 2022Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ came into the contest in a 2-for-17 slump over his previous five games, and this was his first multi-hit effort since May 23. The outfielder still has a solid .258 average and .802 OPS this season, which are up from the .226 and .757 marks he posted last year, respectively. He has his ups and downs, but Happ should remain a productive fantasy asset so long as he stays healthy.
May 30 2022Happ is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will get a breather after starting seven straight games, batting .214 with five extra-base hits including two homers over that stretch. Clint Frazier will start in his place in left field and bat sixth in the early game Monday.
May 26 2022Happ went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and two runs scored in Thursday's loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ had a nice game but it was overshadowed by the Reds rolling to a 20-5 victory. The outfielder is still playing well lately, as he's blasted three home runs over his past nine games to get to five long balls for the season. It looks like the power is finally coming around for Happ, who blasted 25 home runs last season, so his fantasy value could trend upward in a hurry if he stays hot.
May 23 2022Happ went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Monday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ's three-run home run in the seventh inning, his fourth of the season, broke open a 4-3 game and helped lead the Cubs to the 7-4 victory. While the power hasn't fully arrived yet, the outfielder does now have 22 RBI through 39 games to go with a solid .836 OPS. Happ's career high for RBI is 68, which he tallied back during his 2017 rookie season, and he could surpass that figure if he stays healthy this year.
May 22 2022Happ went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After an off day Saturday, Happ returned with a solid performance Sunday. The outfielder has been playing well lately, as he's batting .281 over his past 10 games with a home run, three RBI and six runs scored. He's also struck out just five times in those contests. Limiting whiffs will be critical for Happ moving forward if he wants to finish the year strong.
May 21 2022Happ isn't starting Saturday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ drew starts in the last 13 games, but he'll get a breather after he went 0-for-7 with an RBI, a walk and two strikeouts over the last two matchups. Patrick Wisdom will shift to left field while Ildemaro Vargas starts at second base.
May 16 2022Happ went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Monday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs rolled 9-0, and Happ and Willson Contreras combined for five hits, four runs and five RBI, while the Pirates mustered only three hits as a team. Along with Contreras and Seiya Suzuki, Happ has been one of the team's top offensive performers. The outfielder is tied for second on the club with 16 RBI and his 17 runs are good for third. He hasn't offered much power yet, though, with only two home runs across 32 games.
May 9 2022Happ went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Monday's win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though the Cubs are struggling at 10-18, Happ has been steadily producing all season, as he now has a .277 batting average, .794 OPS and 14 RBI across 26 games. The outfielder has been able to cut down on the strikeouts and he's making more consistent contact at the plate, as his average would represent a new career best if it holds up all year.
May 7 2022Happ isn't starting the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will get his first game off since April 22 after he went 2-for-15 with a run, five walks and six strikeouts over the last five matchups. Patrick Wisdom will shift to left field while Jonathan Villar starts at third base.
May 3 2022Happ went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs struggled to get much going against Michael Kopech and a host of relievers, but Happ continued his strong start to the season. The outfielder is now batting .304 with an .859 OPS across 22 games, and he has 12 runs scored and 11 RBI. Happ looks primed for a solid year as a focal point of Chicago's attack, and his average is particularly promising after he hit just .226 in 2021 with a strikeout rate just under 30 percent. The 27-year-old has trimmed that to just under 19 percent so far this season.
Apr 26 2022Happ went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ's third-inning home run, his second of the season, was all the offense the Cubs got in the 3-1 defeat. The outfielder is off to a nice start with a .333 batting average, .943 OPS and those two long balls across 16 games. If Happ sustains the OPS, it will be a new career high, surpassing the .897 figure he posted in 2019.
Apr 24 2022Happ went 1-for-3 with two walks and a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ connected for his first home run of the season in the eighth inning, but the two walks may be just as encouraging, especially because he didn't have any strikeouts. The outfielder is striking out less than 20 percent of the time this year, which is a nice improvement from the 29.2 percent strikeout rate he posted in 2021. If Happ can be more disciplined at the plate and make more regular contact, a big season could be in store.
Apr 23 2022Happ went 3-for-6 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ had the good fortune of batting cleanup in a 21-0 romp for the Cubs. The outfielder was in the middle of the action, and he pushed his OPS for the season to a solid .823, to go along with eight runs scored and eight RBI. Happ will remain a solid fantasy asset batting in the middle of the Chicago order, though he can be a bit streaky due to his strikeouts.
Apr 22 2022Happ isn't starting Friday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will get a breather after he went 3-for-12 with two runs, an RBI and two walks in his last four appearances. Patrick Wisdom will start in left field and bat fifth.
Apr 17 2022Happ is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs will give Clint Frazier a look in left field in the series finale in Colorado while Happ takes a seat following a stretch of five consecutive starts. During that span, Happ went 4-for-18 with two walks, an RBI and no other counting statistics.
Apr 16 2022Happ went 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts in Friday's loss to the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ started the season on fire with three straight multi-hit games, and while he's gone just 2-for-11 over his last three contests, he remains one of the best hitters for the Cubs in the opening days of the campaign. He's hitting .429 so far.
Apr 12 2022Happ (knee) will bat eighth and play left field Tuesday against Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was hit by a pitch in his left knee Saturday and didn't participate in Sunday's game, but his X-rays were negative, so it's no surprise to see him back in action two days later. He got off to a very strong start in the first two games of the year, reaching base seven times without striking out once and driving in four runs while scoring three more.
Apr 10 2022Happ (knee) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ had X-rays come back negative after being hit by a pitch on the left knee Saturday, and he'll be held out of the lineup for Sunday's contest. The 27-year-old is off to a hot start, going 5-for-7 with two doubles, a walk, three runs and four RBI through the first two games of 2022. Rafael Ortega will cover left field while Clint Frazier serves as the designated hitter in the series finale.
Apr 9 2022Happ went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBI, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in a 9-0 win Saturday against Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ entered Saturday's game with only three hits in 21 career at-bats against Brandon Woodruff and reached base safely all three times they faced off. The 27-year-old now has more hits and RBI in the first two games of the season than he had all spring. After an atrocious first four months of 2021, Happ turned it around and hit .333/.407/.680 over his last 41 games. Consistency has been an issue throughout his career and the Cubs are hoping that this is the year where it all comes together for the leftfielder.
Apr 7 2022Happ went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI in Thursday's win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ batted cleanup and did his job by powering the Chicago offense. The 27-year-old can certainly be a dynamic hitter, though strikeouts have slowed him down in the past, so it was good to see Happ without any strikeouts Thursday. If he can make more consistent contact, a big season could be on tap.
Mar 27 2022Happ (elbow) is starting in left field and batting fifth in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Royals, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ was previously limited to working as the designated hitter while making his way back from February elbow surgery, but he's now been cleared to play the outfield. The 27-year-old appears to be in the clear for Opening Day and should have a starting spot in the outfield.
Mar 23 2022Happ (elbow) is batting cleanup as the designated hitter in Wednesday's Cactus League game against Oakland, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is returning from February elbow surgery, though it's not much of a surprise to see him at designated hitter since the procedure apparently didn't affect his ability to hit. The 27-year-old is going through his throwing program and is expected to be ready to play the field by Opening Day, but even if he's not, he should at the very least be able to start the campaign logging at-bats as the DH.
Mar 16 2022With the Cubs agreeing to a deal with Seiya Suzuki on Wednesday, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Happ (elbow) finds himself in a more crowded outfield heading into the season. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is currently on the mend following surgery on his right elbow in February. He should be ready for Opening Day and might see his name penciled into left field, with Rafael Ortega in center and Suzuki in right. Happ played all three outfield spots in 2021, and also saw some time at second and third, so his versatility should keep him in the lineup most days even with the new addition to the roster.
Mar 14 2022President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Monday that Happ underwent a right elbow procedure in February, but the Cubs expect the outfielder to be ready for Opening Day, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, Hoyer said Happ's surgery was a cleanup procedure that removed loose bodies from his throwing elbow. Hoyer added that Happ hasn't been affected at the plate since going under the knife, so even if the 27-year-old switch hitter isn't able to complete his throwing program in time for Opening Day, he could still break camp with the club and serve as a designated hitter to begin the season. Happ's swing-and-miss tendencies will likely make him a major batting-average risk, but he should remain a strong source of counting stats after producing 25 home runs, 66 RBI, 63 runs and nine stolen bases over 148 games in 2021.
Oct 2 2021Happ went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two walks in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ slammed the go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning off Luis Garcia. He added two walks and another run. The 26-year-old is slashing .227/.323/.426 with 25 long balls, 66 RBI and 63 runs scored in 532 plate appearances this season. He has three extra-base hits in his last four games.
Sep 29 2021Happ went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old has cooled off from his hot start to September, going just 11-for-45 (.244) in his last 13 games. Happ is up to seven stolen bases in eight attempts this year. He's posted a .225/.318/.430 slash line, 24 home runs, 64 RBI and 59 runs scored in 144 games, but he's still seen regular playing time in the corner outfield.
Sep 26 2021Happ went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 8-5 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After an RBI single in the third inning and a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, Happ closed out the Cubs' scoring on the afternoon with a solo shot off Luis Garcia in the ninth. The 27-year-old slugger is trying to salvage a rough season with a big September, batting .354 (28-for-79) through 21 games with seven homers, four steals, 15 runs and 20 RBI. Saturday's long ball was his 24th of the year -- tying the career high he set as a rookie in 2017.
Sep 22 2021Happ went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's loss to the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ didn't leave the yard, which he's done six times this month, but he did deliver another solid box score. The outfielder is batting .361 in September, and in addition to the six long balls, he now has 16 RBI and 14 runs scored in 18 games this month. Happ looks primed to keep delivering good production over the Cubs' final 10 games.
Sep 19 2021Happ is on the bench for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI on Saturday, boosting his average to .297 in the last 10 games. Patrick Wisdom starts in left field Sunday while Matt Duffy plays third base.
Sep 18 2021Happ went 0-for-3 with two walks, a steal and a run scored in Friday's 8-5 loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ reached base for the first time after walking to open up the fourth and eventually came around to score. The 26-year-old drew another walk in the fifth and stole a bag before the inning concluded. Happ is hitless over his last three games but has still scored a run each time over that span as he continues to find ways to get on base. He's still hitting a disappointing .219/.312/.424 with 22 homers, 55 RBI, 54 runs scored, four steals and 52:143 BB:K over 479 plate appearances.
Sep 12 2021Happ went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs are struggling at 65-79 but at least Happ has been showing signs of life lately. After batting just .180 through the end of July with 10 home runs, the outfielder is batting .305 since the beginning of August with 12 home runs. With Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez all gone, Happ figures to be a key offensive figure for the team heading into next season.
Sep 8 2021Happ went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder was able to connect on a Vladimir Gutierrez fastball in the first inning, launching it 444 feet to put the Cubs ahead early. The home run was Happ's 21st of the season. He now has a nine-game hitting streak, batting .410 with five home runs and nine RBI.
Sep 6 2021Happ went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in the win Monday versus the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder crushed a Sonny Gray curveball over the left center wall in the first inning, driving in teammates Rafael Ortega and Frank Schwindel in the process. He has now delivered a hit in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .347 with five home runs, 13 RBI and two stolen base over that stretch.
Sep 3 2021Happ went 3-for-4 in Friday's 6-5 win over Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The utility man is in a groove at the plate, batting .342 (25-for-73) across his last 20 games. Happ has added seven home runs, 16 RBI, 11 runs scored, two stolen bases and five doubles in that span. The recent surge has earned him a fairly regular spot in the lineup, mainly in left field, although he shifted over to right field to give Jason Heyward a day off Friday.
Aug 31 2021Happ went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ hit a solo home run off Caleb Thielbar in the eighth inning, extending the Cubs' lead to two runs. It was his third home run in five games. August was one of Happ's best months of the season so far, batting .255 with seven home runs. The 26-year-old is slashing .199/.299/.382 with 17 long balls, 42 RBI and 43 runs scored in 414 plate appearances this season.
Aug 27 2021Happ went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 17-13 loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old was originally expected to get a day off, but he was added to the lineup after David Bote (ankle) was scratched. Happ provided solid production on short notice, but the Cubs' bats fell short of keeping up with those of their crosstown rivals. The utility man is slashing a poor .201/.303/.381 with 16 homers, 41 RBI, 42 runs scored and two stolen bases through 402 plate appearances.
Aug 25 2021Happ went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Rockies. He also stole his second base of the season. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ didn't start the matinee, but he kept his hot streak going in the nightcap. The 27-year-old is 11-for-25 over his past eight games with three home runs and six RBI. Due to early season struggles, he's still batting just .198, but fantasy managers are enjoying the production lately and should keep rolling with Happ for however long he's locked in at the plate.
Aug 23 2021Happ went 3-for-3 with a walk, two doubles and a run scored in Monday's win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has been stinging the ball lately, as he's now 9-for-19 over his past six games. He's still batting just .195 this season due to a slow start, but the 27-year-old is talented enough to help fantasy managers with a strong finish. Happ has also been batting third lately, which could help him generate some solid counting stats from the premium lineup spot, though the likes of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez aren't around to offer any protection.
Aug 21 2021Happ isn't starting Saturday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is in the midst of a four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 6-for-13 with two home runs, a double, five RBI and a walk. Michael Hermosillo will take Happ's place in left field and bat eighth.
Aug 18 2021Happ 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It wasn't all positive for Happ, as the outfielder left five runners on base, but he still managed his second home run in as many days and 14th of the season. The power is there, and Happ could be primed for a decent finish to the season if he can keep making consistent contact.
Aug 17 2021Happ went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ's 13th home run of the season in the sixth inning put the Cubs up 2-0, and they held on for the narrow win, snapping a 12-game losing streak. The 27-year-old is still batting a woeful .186, but he has hits in five of his last six games, recording a .333 average in that stretch. It's a small step in the right direction for Happ, who will look to end 2021 on a high note and hope for better overall results in 2022.
Aug 16 2021Happ will sit Monday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ hits the bench after starting five straight games. He continues to struggle at the plate, with his last multi-hit game coming all the way back on July 2. He's hit .151/.256/.274 in 38 games since that contest. Patrick Wisdom will be the left fielder in his absence.
Aug 13 2021Happ went 1-for-3 with two walks, a two-run home run and two runs scored in Friday's loss to the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ connected for his 12th home run of the season in the eighth inning but also struck out twice, demonstrating both the good and bad parts of his game. He's striking out more than 30 percent of the time this year, and the 27-year-old has seen his batting average dip to .177. Happ struck out 27.3 percent of the time last year and just 25 percent of the time in 2019, and he batted .258 and .264 during this campaigns, respectively. If he can make more consistent contact to finish up this season, Happ has the talent to post solid stats, though fantasy managers may need to endure some ups and downs.
Aug 10 2021Happ will sit for the second half of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts in the afternoon game. Patrick Wisdom will move out to left field for the nightcap, with Matt Duffy taking Wisdom's usual place at third base.
Aug 3 2021Happ went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and three runs scored in Tuesday's loss to the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is still batting just .179 this season, though it's promising to see him walk and homer in the same game, while also managing to avoid any strikeouts. The 26-year-old is suddenly one of the more established players on the roster, as the Cubs moved stalwarts Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez before Friday's trade deadline. That means Happ should see plenty of playing time the rest of the way, and despite the sluggish start, he could be poised to deliver some better returns for fantasy managers.
Jul 29 2021Happ went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's been a struggle this season for Happ, who's still batting just .181, but he did manage his 10th home run of the year. That gives him double figures in home runs in each of his five MLB seasons. The Cubs traded Anthony Rizzo Thursday and might still make a few more moves before Friday's deadline, so Happ could see more playing time down the stretch after getting stuck on the bench more frequently lately.
Jul 28 2021Happ isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ started in Tuesday's loss to Cincinnati, and he went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and two strikeouts. Rafael Ortega will start in center field and lead off.
Jul 26 2021Happ isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has gone hitless with a strikeout in his last 10 at-bats, and he'll be excluded from the lineup for a fourth consecutive contest. Jake Marisnick will take his place in center field and bat seventh.
Jul 25 2021Happ is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ remains out of the lineup for the third straight time in the weekend series against Arizona. In fact, he's started only five times in the last 13 games. Happ is still getting some run off the bench as a pinch hitter, but that won't move the needle much in fantasy. The outfielder has struggled all year with a .176/.287/.316 slash line, so the extra time on the bench makes sense.
Jul 24 2021Happ isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has gone 0-for-8 with a strikeout across his last three appearances, and he'll remain out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. Rafael Ortega will start in center field and lead off.
Jul 23 2021Happ will sit Friday against Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ spent the last two games in left field following a run of three straight on the bench. He's struggled all year long and hasn't shown any signs of turning things around over his last 15 games, hitting .111/.238/.167 over that stretch. Kris Bryant will be the left fielder Friday.
Jul 20 2021Happ is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Having failed to crack the starting lineup three games in a row, Happ appears to have lost his grip on an everyday role. At this point, he seems to be sharing center field duties with Jake Marisnick and Rafael Ortega, both of whom have displayed more offensive competence than the .180-hitting Happ. Ortega is starting in center field and batting eighth Tuesday.
Jul 19 2021Happ will sit Monday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's been a very disappointing season for Happ, whose career-low .617 OPS comes nowhere close to the .866 mark he recorded last season. He appears to be losing playing time, as he finds himself on the bench for the second straight day, but the expected deadline sell-off at Wrigley Field could leave the Cubs with little choice but to let him work through his struggles as an everyday player down the stretch. Rafael Ortega starts in center field Monday.
Jul 18 2021Happ is not starting Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts Saturday and is now hitting .172 with 12 strikeouts in 29 at-bats this month. Jake Marisnick is playing center field and batting sixth in the series finale.
Jul 9 2021Happ remains on the bench for Friday's game against St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ finds himself on the bench for the third game in a row. He's made a very poor case for everyday at-bats this season, hitting .183/.296/.335. Jake Marisnick will be the center fielder Friday.
Jul 8 2021Happ is not in the lineup Thursday against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has a .517 OPS in 32 games since the start of June and will take a seat for the third time in the past four games. Rafael Ortega will receive his second straight start in center field Thursday.
Jul 7 2021Happ isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will be on the bench for the second time in the last three games after he went 1-for-5 with a double, a run, an RBI and two strikeouts Tuesday. Rafael Ortega will take his place in center field and bat eighth.
Jul 5 2021Happ isn't in the lineup Monday against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will get a breather after he went 2-for-18 with two walks and six strikeouts across the last five games. Jake Marisnick will take over in center field and bat seventh.
Jul 2 2021Happ is starting at second base and batting eighth in Friday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will play second base for just the sixth time this season, as he's primarily become an outfielder for the Cubs. Chicago will use Joc Pederson, Kris Bryant and Jason Heyward in the outfield from left to right in this one. Happ should return to the outfield soon, but his ability to play the keystone could be useful moving forward, as the Cubs will likely want to find ways to get both Bryant and the surprising Patrick Wisdom into the lineup at the same time. Wisdom is playing third Friday with Bryant in center.
Jun 29 2021Happ went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Monday's 14-4 loss against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ slammed a first-inning homer off Freddy Peralta to give the Cubs the early lead. He managed to reach base safely three times in the game, but it wasn't enough to match the Brewers' 14-run performance. The 26-year-old is slashing .190/.305/.355 in 235 plate appearances, which has caused him to lose his leadoff role. His home run Monday was just his second extra-base hit over his last 14 games.
Jun 27 2021Happ isn't in the lineup Sunday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has gone just 2-for-19 with a double, an RBI, a walk and four strikeouts across his last nine appearances, and he'll take a seat for the fifth time in the last six games. Jake Marisnick will start in center field and bat sixth.
Jun 26 2021Happ will sit Saturday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ sits for the fourth time in five games. He's in the middle of a career-worst season at the plate, hitting just .180/.296/.330 on the year. Jake Marisnick will start in center field in his absence.
Jun 24 2021Happ is not starting Thursday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has now been out of the lineup for three consecutive games, though he did appear as a pinch-hitter in the first two contests. He has only two hits in his last 23 at-bats, neither of which have gone for extra-bases. Rafael Ortega will draw the start in center field and hit sixth in Happ's continued absence.
Jun 22 2021Happ is not starting Tuesday's game against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has hit a dismal .118 in June, striking out 24.6 percent of the time and driving home just four runs in those 19 games. Jake Marisnick gets the start in center field Tuesday.
Jun 21 2021Happ is not in the lineup for Monday's game against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ owns a poor .184/.302/.337 slash line through 60 games this season. Things have only been getting worse for him lately, as he's hitting .138/.219/.241 over his last 12 games. Kris Bryant will move out to center field in his absence Monday, with Patrick Wisdom starting at third base.
Jun 17 2021Happ isn't starting Thursday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ's recent slump continued across the last two games, as he went 1-for-7 with three strikeouts. Jake Marisnick will take over in center field and bat seventh.
Jun 14 2021Happ will get the day off Monday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has struggled significantly over his last 20 games, hitting just .131/.274/.246. Jake Marisnick will handle center field in his absence.
Jun 12 2021Happ went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ hit a two-run home run off John Gant as a part of the five-run second inning. He added an eighth-inning walk. The 26-year-old has struggled this season, slashing .195/.320/.367 in 202 plate appearances. Consequently, he lost his leadoff role this season and finds himself towards the bottom of the lineup. He has eight homers, 18 RBI and 22 runs in 52 games.
Jun 11 2021Happ is out of the lineup Friday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old is 2-for-25 through eight games in June and will take a seat for the second time in the past three contests. Kris Bryant will shift to center field while Patrick Wisdom continues to start at third base.
Jun 8 2021Happ is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is 2-for-5 with a homer, a double and two walks over the past two games but will take a seat Tuesday. Kris Bryant will move to center field while Patrick Wisdom starts at the hot corner.
Jun 6 2021Happ went 1-for-2 with two walks, a double and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has been slumping lately, as he came into the day with just four hits in his last 13 games. Perhaps a day off Saturday helped get him back on track, but the 26-year-old will want to string together a few good efforts to show he's truly out of his slump.
Jun 5 2021Happ will sit Saturday against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ started 20 straight games after returning from a rib injury in mid-May. He hit well at the start of that stretch but has since gone on to grab just four hits in his last 13 games, lowering his season slash line to .186/.306/.327. Kris Bryant will move to center field in his absence.
May 29 2021Happ went 1-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored and a walk in Saturday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ plated two of the Cubs' 10 runs with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth, scoring Kris Bryant and Javier Baez. The centerfielder has struggled badly this season and is hitting just .209 with a .706 OPS, but he might be turning things around after extending his streak of games reaching base at least once to six contests.
May 21 2021Happ went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Friday's 12-3 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has been scuffling a bit in the first few months of the season, but he got in on the offensive fun Friday. Joc Pederson has taken over as the team's preferred leadoff hitter it seems, which has bumped Happ down to the bottom half of the order lately. Perhaps the move will ultimately take some pressure off of him and set him up for better production the rest of the way.
May 20 2021Happ went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI during Thursday's win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Thanks to a recent resurgence, Happ moved his way up in the lineup to the cleanup spot and made it count, hammering out a pair of long balls to bring his season total to six. The outfielder gave Chicago the lead for good with a two-run shot in the third inning. He then led off the fifth frame with second homer of the day. Happ now has four home runs across six games since coming off the injured list following a collision with teammate Nico Hoerner. After a slow start to the season, Happ is slowly raising his slash line to .206/.320/.402.
May 18 2021Happ went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ connected for his fourth home run of the season in the eighth inning against Wander Suero. It's a good sign for the outfielder, who's been struggling this season with a .192 batting average. He also missed a little more than 10 days with a left rib contusion. Happ has seen Willson Contreras take over as the team's leadoff hitter in the meantime, but perhaps the home run Tuesday and lower spot in the order will help him settle into a groove moving forward.
May 16 2021Happ went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two total RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ came a triple shy of the cycle and made his presence felt at the bottom of the Cubs lineup, scoring a run in the third, hitting an RBI double in the fourth and adding a solo shot in the sixth. The center fielder is only hitting .183 this season, but this game will undoubtedly be a confidence booster for him now that he's back from a stint in the injured list.
May 15 2021Happ (ribs) was activated off the injured list Saturday and will bat sixth and play center field against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will wind up missing slightly more than the minimum 10 days after suffering a left rib contusion in a collision with teammate Nico Hoerner in early May. He'd struggled at the plate prior to the injury, hitting just .167/.307/.250 in 26 games. Ildemaro Vargas was designated for assignment to clear a space on the active roster.
May 12 2021Happ (ribs) is unlikely to be reinstated from the injured list Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has been on the 10-day injured list since May 4, so Friday marked the first day that he'd be eligible to return. However, manager David Ross said that Happ is "a tick behind" in his recovery process, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. It's not yet clear when the 26-year-old will be able to return to action.
May 7 2021Happ was placed on the injured list with a left rib contusion Friday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The move comes as no surprise, as Happ hasn't taken the field since colliding with teammate Nico Hoerner (forearm) on Tuesday. Hoerner has also been placed on the injured list. Happ's transaction was backdated by three days, so he'll be eligible to return next Friday, though it remains to be seen whether or not the Cubs expect him to do so. Nick Martini was recalled in a corresponding move.
May 5 2021Happ (ribs) isn't starting Wednesday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will be out of the lineup once again after he was involved in a scary collision with Nico Hoerner on Sunday, but he'll be available off the bench, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports. Jake Marisnick will take over in center field and bat eighth.
May 4 2021Happ (ribs) will remain on the bench for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ avoided a concussion during a scary collision with Nico Hoerner on Sunday, but he's yet to return to the lineup. Kris Bryant will be the center fielder in his absence.
May 3 2021Happ (head) is not in the lineup Monday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will be on the bench for at least one game after hitting his head in a collision with teammate Nico Hoerner against the Reds on Sunday. Kris Bryant will make his second career start in center field in his absence.
May 2 2021Happ (head) was feeling better after Sunday's loss to the Reds, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ took a shot to the head during an outfield collision in the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday and had to be carted off the field. He'll undergo further tests Monday, but manager David Ross said that Happ was in good spirits after the game. It's not yet clear whether Happ will require a stint on the injured list, but Ross said that he's hopeful that the 26-year-old isn't dealing with anything too serious.
Apr 30 2021Happ will sit for the third straight game Friday against the Reds, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ appears to be falling out of favor after a very poor start to the season which has seen him hit just .135/.297/.176 over his first 92 plate appearances. His strikeout rate, which was particularly problematic during his first two seasons, has jumped up to 32.6 percent. Jake Marisnick remains the starter in center field in his absence.
Apr 29 2021Happ isn't starting Thursday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will be out of the lineup for a second straight game after he went 0-for-12 with a walk and six strikeouts across the last four contests. Jake Marisnick will start in center field and bat seventh.
Apr 28 2021Happ isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ had gone 0-for-10 with a walk and five strikeouts across the last three games. Jake Marisnick will start in center field and bat seventh.
Apr 23 2021Happ is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will sit for the first time in over two weeks. Jake Marisnick remains the starter in center field, while Kris Bryant moves out to left, the position Happ had been filling in the absence of Joc Pederson (wrist).
Apr 17 2021Happ went 1-for-3 with two walks in Friday's loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ is still batting just .158 on the season, but it's good to see the outfielder draw two walks without striking out. His BABIP sits at just .200 after being .317 last year, so if Happ keeps making contact, he should start to see more balls drop for hits with better luck.
Apr 8 2021Happ is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ will sit for the second time this season, with both of his exits from the lineup coming with lefty Tyler Anderson on the mound for the opposition. Jake Marisnick will replace Happ in center field as manager David Ross looks to get more right-handed bats in the lineup to counter the southpaw.
Apr 4 2021Happ went 1-for-2 with two walks, a solo home run and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After getting an early day off in the second game of the season Saturday, Happ returned to the lineup and made a difference from the leadoff spot in Sunday's series finale. The outfielder blasted 12 home runs in 57 games last year, so he could definitely make a run at 30 long balls this season if he stays healthy. Happ hit a career-best 24 home runs across 115 games in his 2017 rookie campaign.
Apr 3 2021Happ is not in Saturday's lineup against the Pirates, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout on Opening Day. It seems a little early for Happ to already be getting a day off, but Jake Marisnick will draw the start in center field while Willson Contreras leads off.
Mar 1 2021Manager David Ross confirmed that Happ will be his leadoff hitter this season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This seemed likely coming into spring training, and now it has the manager's public backing. Anthony Rizzo led off Monday's Cactus League opener with Happ out of the lineup, but Happ should be back in there soon, and the 26-year-old will attempt to power the Cubs from atop the lineup all season. He's coming off a strong 2020 campaign in which he slashed .258/.361/.505 with 12 home runs in 57 games.
Feb 19 2021Happ won his arbitration hearing Friday and will earn $4.1 million next season, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs had filed at $3.25 million. Happ has broken out over the past two seasons after showing promise but also a frustrating amount of strikeouts in his first two campaigns. He's hit .260/.350/.530 with 23 homers in 115 games over the last two years while striking out a respectable 26.4 percent of the time.
Feb 16 2021Happ will likely reprise his role as the Cubs' primary leadoff hitter in 2021, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs added Joc Pederson during the offseason, and the former Dodger made 249 appearances in the leadoff spot during his seven seasons in Los Angeles. However, Chicago manager David Ross plans on sticking with Happ atop the order. Happ led off 37 times in 2020 and slashed .258/.361/.505 on the season with 12 home runs, 27 runs scored and 28 RBI.
Sep 27 2020Happ is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With nothing left to play for during the regular season, the Cubs will give many of their regulars the day off. Happ could have probably used another day off anyway as he's been nursing a minor ankle injury this week. Billy Hamilton will man center field and lead off against right-hander Reynaldo Lopez.
Sep 25 2020Happ (ankle) is starting in center field and batting leadoff Friday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old was withheld from Thursday's lineup after tweaking his ankle Wednesday, but his quick return to the lineup confirms it's a minor issue. Happ has a .138/.233/.169 slash line and 35.6 percent strikeout rate over his past 17 games and will look to bust out of the slump in the Cubs' final series of the regular season.
Sep 24 2020Happ, who is not in Thursday's lineup against the Pirates, tweaked his ankle in Wednesday's game, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs say that they just want to make sure Happ is 100 percent before deploying him, but it's worth noting he is also hitting .138/.233/.169 with a 35.6 percent strikeout rate and zero home runs over his last 65 at-bats, so his playing time may have been trending down slightly anyway. Once he is deemed fully healthy, he should get the bulk of the starts in center field. Cameron Maybin is getting the start in center Thursday.
Sep 19 2020Happ is starting in center field and batting leadoff in Saturday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ got Friday's game off, with Cameron Maybin getting the nod in center against left hander Rich Hill, but the former returns to the lineup Saturday. Happ has a strong .941 OPS on the season, though he's slumped over his last 11 games with a .455 OPS.
Sep 18 2020Happ will be on the bench Friday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ still has a strong .941 OPS on the season, though he owns a .455 OPS over his last 11 games. Cameron Maybin will be the center fielder Friday.
Sep 7 2020Happ went 1-for 2 with a double, three walks and one run scored in Monday's 5-1 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ doubled to leadoff the first and came around to score when Anthony Rizzo grounded into a double play two batter later. The 26-year-old walked in his next three plate appearances, bringing his slash line to a robust .304/.420/.659 on the season. The outfielder seems likely to remain as the Cubs' primary leadoff hitter going forward.
Sep 5 2020Happ went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ went hitless in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader but fantasy managers won't complain about his production in the first game. The 26-year-old is now up to 12 home runs this season, which is tied for eighth most in the majors. It's also one more long ball than Happ hit in 58 games last year. He's established himself as a force at the top of Chicago's lineup.
Sep 4 2020Happ (forehead) is out of the lineup Friday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old exited Thursday's game after he hit a foul ball that bounced and hit him above the right eye, and he'll remain out of the lineup Friday. Happ appears to have avoided a serious injury as X-rays came back negative, but he'll nonetheless receive at least one day off. Cameron Maybin will receive the start in center field for the Cubs in his place.
Sep 3 2020Happ exited Thursday's game with a bruise above his right eye, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A ball he fouled off bounced up and hit him above his right eye, but X-rays came back negative so it seems to be just a contusion for the Cubs' hottest hitter. Manager David Ross said Happ's vision was "super blurry" and his eye was watering, which is why he had to come out of the game, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. He should be considered day-to-day.
Sep 2 2020Happ went 3-for-6 with a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 8-7 extra-innings win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He took Chad Kuhl deep on the second pitch of the game to extend his homer streak to three games. The blast also gave Happ 10 homers on the year and 60 in his career to set a new Cubs record for career home runs by a switch hitter. The hot streak has pushed the 26-year-old's slash line to .304/.420/.643, and he's making a strong case for a permanent home at the top of the order in Chicago.
Aug 30 2020Happ went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in Sunday's 10-1 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ took Luis Castillo deep in the fifth inning with a runner on, then added a solo shot in the seventh. That gives the Chicago center fielder three home runs across his last two games and nine long balls this season.
Aug 29 2020Happ went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, a walk and two RBI in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ went hitless in three at-bats during the first game of the twin bill, but he sparked the offense in the nightcap. He led off the game with a solo shot to right field and doubled in a run in the fifth inning. Happ is slashing .288/.417/.577 to lead Chicago in all three categories. He is also second on the team with seven homers and 17 RBI.
Aug 26 2020Happ went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Wednesday's 7-6 loss to the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has been a productive hitter for the Cubs, and they've rewarded him with leadoff duties lately. Kris Bryant (wrist/finger) could reclaim the top spot in the order when he's able to return from the 10-day injured list, but Happ should still have a prominent spot in the lineup moving forward.
Aug 19 2020Happ went 2-for-6 with a walk. a triple and a solo home run across both games of a doubleheader against the Cardinals Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ homered for the second time in as many days and the third time in his last five games. He's now up to six long balls this season to go along with a strong 1.109 OPS, and the Cubs have inserted him into the leadoff spot recently with Kris Bryant (wrist) out of the lineup. Happ should continue to produce as the team's primary center fielder.
Aug 17 2020Happ went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ went deep in the bottom of the fourth inning, tying the ballgame 1-1, but St. Louis would put up two runs in the seventh to come away with the victory. The 26-year-old continues to produce at the dish for the Cubs this season, hitting .311 with four homers, 12 RBI and a stolen base.
Aug 11 2020Happ is starting in center field and batting sixth in Tuesday's game against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: So far this season, Happ has batted ninth seven times in 13 games, but he'll move up in the order Tuesday evening. The bump is warranted, as the 25-year-old center fielder is slashing .297/.409/.622 with three home runs in the early going, and he seems to have a clear lead over Albert Almora for playing time at this point.
Aug 5 2020Happ isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has seen pretty consistent playing time in center field this season since he's been swinging a hot bat, but he'll play a bench role after going 1-for-5 with four walks and one stolen base over the past three games. Nico Hoerner will shift to center field Wednesday with David Bote starting at second base and batting sixth.
Aug 3 2020Happ is starting in center field and batting ninth in Monday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ got the day off Sunday but will return to the lineup Monday for his fifth start in the last six games. He seems to have a firm edge over Albert Almora for playing time in center, and Happ has done well in the role, slashing .286/.375/.679 with three home runs in nine games this season.
Aug 2 2020Happ is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ started the last four games and went 5-for-16 with two doubles and a home run during that stretch, but he'll head to the bench for Sunday's series finale. Albert Almora will start in center field against Pittsburgh lefty Steven Brault.
Aug 1 2020Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ recorded his third homer of the season when he took Mitch Keller deep in the third inning. He extended his hitting streak to three games and has produced multi-hit efforts in each of his last two outings.
Jul 27 2020Happ isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ got off to a hot start in the Cubs' first series by blasting two home runs as he started in each of the first three games, but he'll get a day off Monday. Albert Almora will start in center field, batting ninth.
Jul 26 2020Happ went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has gotten off to a hot start, with two home runs and a 1.264 OPS through three games. Most importantly for his 2020 outlook, he started all three games, so he seems to be firmly ahead of Albert Almora in the center field pecking order. If Happ keeps producing at the plate, it looks like new manager David Ross will keep him in the lineup most days.
Jul 25 2020Happ is starting in center and batting ninth in Saturday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ batted ninth Friday night and belted a two-run homer. It's encouraging to see him start on consecutive days to begin the season, though it remains to be seen how exactly the playing time will be split up between Happ and Albert Almora. The former can certainly help his cause if he keeps producing at the plate, as Almora is considered the superior defender in center field.
Jul 24 2020Happ went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 3-0 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ homered in his first at-bat, just as he did back on Opening Day 2018. This time he was down in the No. 9 spot in the order behind Nico Hoerner, but it's encouraging that he was in the lineup in center field right away with Kyle Schwarber in left and Victor Caratini at DH.
Jul 4 2020Happ could see time at DH this year in addition to working in the outfield, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kyle Schwarber seems like the team's most logical candidate for the role, but first-year manager David Ross said he plans on rotating players through the position. Happ will likely be one of those players, giving the Cubs the ability to keep his powerful bat in the lineup while keeping Albert Almora's glove in center. Happ appeared in 58 games at the major-league level last season, slashing .264/.333/.564 and popping 11 home runs.
Apr 22 2020Happ could work in a rotation with fellow outfielders Albert Almora and Steven Souza, and all three would likely benefit if MLB adopts a universal DH for the 2020 season, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ and Almora were battling for the primary role in center field before the coronavirus pandemic abruptly stopped play, and that competition will likely continue into the regular season, whenever it is able to begin. The league has been mulling some ways to condense the schedule with games being held in just a few sites, and a universal DH idea has popped up as well. This would bode well for Happ and his powerful bat. He also has the advantage of being able to play some infield, while Almora and Souza are likely just outfield or DH options at this point.
Mar 10 2020Happ went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and three RBI in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ has been great this spring, as he's now sporting a 1.315 OPS in Cactus League play. The 25-year-old has also hit leadoff some, and while Kris Bryant will serve as the primary leadoff man this year, it appears Happ could get some run there whenever Bryant sits. If Happ performs anything like this, he should be able to post some eye-popping stats when he bats first.
Mar 2 2020Happ went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Monday's Cactus League game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ's third inning blast was his first of the spring, and he's now batting .385 with a 1.050 OPS through five Cactus League games. Unfortunately for Happ, Albert Almora has been equally as locked in (1.810 OPS, two home runs in five games) this spring, and the two could once again split time in center field this year, which would cap their respective fantasy values.
Feb 27 2020Happ is leading off and playing center field in his third spring training start Thursday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year old is 2-for-6 at the plate with three RBI in two games heading into his fourth season major-league season. The Cubs' new manager David Ross has already confirmed that Kris Bryant will serve as the leadoff man, but Happ seems to occupy the leadoff spot whenever Bryant is out of the lineup. The switch hitting outfielder is expected to begin the year in a platoon role alongside Albert Almora Jr. Happ is expected to open the season hitting in the nine spot against right-handed pitching and will have plenty of opportunities to score runs when he can get on-base ahead of the big bats that headline Chicago's lineup.
Sep 28 2019Happ went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI in a win over the Cardinals on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ spent the majority of 2019 at Triple-A Iowa and was not impressive at that level, posting a below-average batting line over 99 games. He's regained some of the lost shine since his late-July recall, hitting .268/.333/.572 with 11 homers in 57 games with the big-league club. That said, there's a lot of uncertainty facing the Cubs this offseason and Happ isn't assured of anything in 2020.
Sep 27 2019Happ went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, an RBI double and two runs scored in Friday's 8-2 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ tied the game with a solo shot off Giovanny Gallegos in the sixth inning. Happ then doubled to plate Ben Zobrist before coming around himself on a Nico Hoerner single. The big night gives the 25-year-old a six-game hitting streak, during which he's swatted three homers and rallied eight RBI. He's up to a .256/.324/.526 line with 26 RBI and 23 runs scored in 133 at-bats this season.
Sep 25 2019Happ went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ now has eight home runs this season in 125 at-bats, which would equate to 32 long balls across 500 at-bats. The 25-year-old has certainly flashed his power so far in his MLB career, but he's still striking out nearly 26 percent of the time, and his inability to make consistent contact has limited his overall impact in the majors.
Sep 21 2019Happ went 1-for-1 with a two-run homer in Saturday's 9-8 loss to the Cardinals on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ entered the game as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning and tied the score with a 443-foot shot to center field off Dominic Leone. Happ isn't getting regular playing time but has homered twice in his last 13 at-bats. The 25-year-old has seven home runs, 20 RBI and a .224/.300/.457 slash line in 51 games this season.
Sep 15 2019Happ went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 16-6 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ entered the game when first baseman Anthony Rizzo left the contest in the third inning with an ankle sprain. It's unclear how long Rizzo will be sidelined, though Happ's defensive versatility gives Chicago manager Joe Maddon some options if he needs to cover for his slugging first baseman for an extended period of time. Happ now has six home runs, 18 RBI and a .727 OPS in 45 games this season.
Sep 12 2019Happ went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Happ made the most out of his first start in more than a week, though the versatile 25-year-old has still gotten regular at-bats recently off the bench. Happ's .218 batting average is nothing to write home about, but he does offer decent power potential every time he comes to the plate.
Aug 31 2019Happ is not starting Saturday against the Brewers.
Aug 29 2019Happ is not in the lineup Thursday against the Mets.
Aug 28 2019Happ went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 10-7 win over the Mets.
Aug 25 2019Happ is starting at first base and batting eighth in Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Aug 24 2019Happ is not in the lineup for Saturday's contest against the Nationals.
Aug 23 2019Happ is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals.
Aug 20 2019Happ is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Giants.
Aug 18 2019Happ is not in Sunday's lineup against the Pirates.
Aug 16 2019Happ is not in the lineup Friday against the Pirates.
Aug 15 2019Happ is starting at second base and hitting fifth Thursday against the Phillies.
Aug 10 2019Happ isn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Reds.
Aug 8 2019Happ went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Thursday's 12-5 win over the Reds.
Aug 7 2019Happ went 2-for-4 with a grand slam in Wednesday's 10-1 rout of the A's.
Jul 28 2019Happ went 0-for-1 with three walks and three runs scored in Sunday's 11-4 win over the Brewers.
Jul 26 2019Happ was officially recalled<\/a> from Triple-A Iowa on Friday and is starting in left field against the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 25 2019Happ will be recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 20 2019Happ exited Monday's Triple-A game with a finger injury, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 22 2018Happ is starting in center field and batting fifth in Sunday's game against the Cardinals.Happ started the first game of Saturday's doubleheader then hit the bench for the nightcap, so Cubs manager Joe Maddon will rotate the 23-year-old back in there Sunday, with Albert Almora taking a seat. Happ is slashing .255/.380/.457 this season with 12 home runs, and he and Almora figure to continue splitting time in center field the rest of the way.
Jul 19 2018Happ went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 9-6 win over the Cardinals.Happ's only hit was a big one, as he connected for a two-run bomb off of St. Louis stater Carlos Martinez to cap a five-run fifth inning for the Cubs. The 23-year-old now has 12 home runs this season to go along with 28 RBI and an .839 OPS.
Jul 15 2018Happ is out of the lineup Sunday against the Padres.Happ heads the bench after destroying Padres pitching through the first two games of the series, going a combined 3-for-7 with a home run, a walk, three RBI and three runs. He'll give way in center field to Jason Heyward, who shifts over from right with Albert Almora (personal) on the Family Medical Emergency List.
Jul 14 2018Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and three runs scored Saturday against the Padres.Happ launched his 11th home run of the season in the second inning off Luis Perdomo. It was only his third home run since May 23, though his second since the calendar flipped to July. He was also busy on the basepaths, scoring three runs in a game for the first time this season. Happ has been prone to lengthy slumps this season and his 35.7% strikeout rate is likely the main culprit for that.
Jul 8 2018Happ went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Reds.Happ also managed to avoid striking out after whiffing three times in Saturday's game. Swings and misses have been an issue all season for the 23-year-old, as he's now got a 36.5 percent strikeout rate. However, Happ has also managed to post a .256 batting average and .827 OPS, so he's found success at the plate despite the strikeouts.
Jul 7 2018Happ is starting at third base and batting fifth Saturday against the Reds.Happ was not in the lineup Friday but will jump back in there to face Matt Harvey. With Kris Bryant (shoulder) still not quite ready to return to the lineup, Happ figures to continue to see starts at third base, along with Javy Baez and David Bote.
Jul 6 2018Happ is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.Happ will head to the bench for the third time in the last five games, and is coming off an 0-for-4 performance with two strikeouts in Wednesday's win over the Tigers. The 23-year-old has a .252/.375/.452 slash line with 10 home runs in 210 at-bats, but Albert Amora will start in center fielder for the Cubs on Friday.
Jul 3 2018Happ is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Tigers.Happ is coming off a three-hit game and is hitting .483/.595/.655 over his last nine, but he'll nonetheless sit in favor of Albert Almora. After a slow start, Happ's season line now sits at a solid .257/.378/.461. There are certainly some red flags remaining in his profile, however. It's taken a .410 BABIP (easily the highest among all hitters with at least 240 plate appearances) to get him to that line, while his 37 percent strikeout rate is also the highest among players who have hit that plate appearance threshold.
Jul 1 2018Happ will start in center field and bat leadoff Sunday against the Twins.Happ will take advantage of an Albert Almora (leg) day off and get the starting nod against Lance Lynn and the Twins. He's hit leadoff a total of 11 times this year, but is just 8-for-46 (.174) out of the one-spot this season.
Jul 1 2018Happ went 3-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Twins.Happ batted leadoff with Albert Almora out of the lineup and he delivered for the Cubs. As encouraging as the three hits and the home run was the fact that Happ didn't strike out once in this one, as whiffs have been an issue all season for the 23-year-old. He's now batting .257 with an .839 OPS and 10 home runs, and should continue to see regular playing time in both the outfield and infield.
Jun 30 2018Happ is out of Saturday's lineup against the Twins.He had started the last seven games, going 9-for-22 (.409 AVG) with an 8:7 K:BB over that stretch. David Bote is starting at third base while Albert Almora patrols center field.
Jun 25 2018Happ is starting at third base and batting seventh in Monday's game against the Dodgers.With Kris Bryant (shoulder) out of the lineup for the third straight day, Happ will pick up his second consecutive start at third base. Manager Joe Maddon said Monday it's possible that Bryant will require a stint on the 10-day disabled list, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports, and if that happens, it appears Happ might be the next man up at the hot corner.
Jun 24 2018Happ is starting at third base and batting seventh in Sunday's game against the Reds.Happ has appeared at third base just three times this season, but with Kris Bryant out of the lineup for the second straight day with a sore shoulder, the versatile 23-year-old will take over. Happ is slashing .229/.352/.436 this season with nine home runs and 21 RBI, along with an alarming 38.5 percent strikeout rate.
Jun 22 2018Happ is not in the starting nine versus Cincinnati on Friday.Albert Almora will draw the start in center field for Friday's tilt. Over his past 20 games, Happ is slashing just .161/.288/.250 with three extra-base hits and 25 strikeouts.
Jun 20 2018Happ is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers.Happ will head to the bench for Wednesday's series finale after playing both sets of Tuesday's doubleheader and going hitless in nine plate appearances -- 0-for-8 with four strikeouts and a walk. Albert Almora will pick up a start in center field and hit fifth in his stead.
Jun 16 2018Happ went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Friday's win over the Cardinals.Happ now has nine home runs this season in just 159 at-bats, as he's been a consistent power threat when he's been in the lineup. However, the 23-year-old also struck out two more times Friday, and his season strikeout rate sits at an unsightly 39.7 percent. Happ will likely continue to cede much of the playing time in center field to Albert Almora as long as his contact woes continue.
Jun 12 2018Happ is on the bench for the second straight game Tuesday against the Brewers.Albert Almora will again man center field. Happ has managed to overcome a 40 percent strikeout rate to post a respectable .227/.356/.447 line on the season, good enough numbers for a player who can hold his own in center. Almora grades out much better in the field, however, and has outperformed Happ at the plate as well, hitting .323/.374/.441.
Jun 11 2018Happ is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.Happ will give way to Albert Almora in center field for Monday's series opener as the two continue to split playing time fairly evenly. The 23-year-old is hitting just .158/.385/.158 through nine games (five starts) this month, leaving his season slash line at an unremarkable .227/.356/.447.
Jun 10 2018Happ is starting in center field and batting fifth in Sunday's game against the Pirates.For the second straight game, Happ will start the game in center field with Albert Almora on the bench. Cubs manager Joe Maddon has rotated these two fairly evenly all season, so it would probably take more than two straight starts to determine if Happ has overtaken Almora for playing time in any significant way. For now, expect the two to continue splitting time, which means Happ could hit the bench early next week.
Jun 3 2018Happ is starting at first base and batting fifth in Sunday's game against the Mets.Happ is showing off his defensive versatility, as he'll be making his first start of the season at first, giving Anthony Rizzo a breather for the series finale. The 23-year-old has been hitting better lately, though his season average still sits at .243 with a 40 percent strikeout rate. He's been able to offset his contact woes to some degree with power, as Happ has eight home runs and a strong .841 OPS that is nearly identical to his mark from last year.
Jun 2 2018Happ is out of Saturday's lineup against the Mets.Albert Almora has been on a tear at the plate, so he has been a lineup staple of late, and Jason Heyward is getting the start in right field and hitting second, so Happ will start the game on the bench. He is hitting .265/.468/.676 with three home runs and one steal over his last 34 at-bats.
Jun 1 2018Happ is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets.Happ will head to the bench for the fourth time in the last six games, with Albert Almore starting in center field and Ben Zobrist in left field. The 23-year-old had a strong series against the Reds earlier this month but has struggled since, going 2-for-17 with seven strikeouts in 21 plate appearances.
May 30 2018Happ is out of Wednesday's lineup against the Pirates.After missing Sunday's game with a shoulder injury, Happ appeared off the bench Monday and got the start Tuesday, going 1-for-4 with an RBI double. Jason Heyward is starting in right field while Albert Almora starts in center field and leads off against righty Joe Musgrove.
May 28 2018Happ (shoulder) is not in the lineup Monday against the Pirates, but he is available off the bench, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.He felt a pinch in the top of his shoulder a couple days ago, but says he is good to go moving forward. Happ is hitting .279/.475/.744 with five home runs and a 19:15 K:BB over his last 43 at-bats. Albert Almora is starting in center field and hitting ninth in his stead.
May 27 2018Happ will sit Sunday against the Giants due to shoulder soreness, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.Happ is on the bench with a sore shoulder after diving in Saturday's matchup. He was initially penciled into the starting lineup Sunday morning, but he wasn't able to give it a go after testing the shoulder before the game. Happ will likely be available off the bench, and he'll be listed as day-to-day moving forward.
May 27 2018Happ is not in the lineup Sunday against the Giants.Happ is 0-for-7 in his last three contests but has walked four times during that span. He'll head to the bench in the series finale against the Giants, with Albert Almora taking over in center field.
May 22 2018Happ is not in the lineup Tuesday against Cleveland.Happ sits after starting five straight games at four different positions. Over those five games, the 23-year-old went 6-for-15 with nine walks and a pair of homers. The mini hot streak was enough to bring his overall line up to a solid .254/.361/.509, though he's still striking out a worrisome 40.6 percent of the time.
May 22 2018Happ hit a pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 10-1 loss to the Indians.Happ started the last five games at four different positions, so Tuesday was a well-deserved day off, though he still managed to contribute in his lone at-bat. Albert Almora has played well in center field and has seemed to secure a significant amount of playing time there, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon is apparently committed to getting Happ in the lineup on a fairly regular basis.
May 19 2018Happ went 3-for-4 with nine total bases, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Reds.Happ finished the game a single short of the cycle. He doubled in the second inning off Luis Castillo, tripled in the sixth off David Hernandez and hit a solo homer in the eighth off Raisel Iglesias. It was a promising sign for the struggling young outfielder, and it also served as a reminder of how young the season still is. The three extra-base hits raised Happ's slugging percentage from .429 to .495 and sent his wRC+ soaring from 99 up to 122. Suddenly, his stat line looks quite good, though he's still striking out 42.3 percent of the time.
May 15 2018Happ is out of the lineup for the second game in a row Tuesday in Atlanta.Happ has now been benched for three out of four games, with Albert Almora starting in center each time. Happ's .232/.303/.424 line certainly doesn't demand an everyday role, while Almora is hitting .298/.354/.423 and playing better defense.
May 14 2018Happ is not in the lineup Monday against the Braves.After a rough first month of the season, Happ had gradually fallen out of favor, but he's been working his way back into the lineup on a more regular basis recently. He still has an ugly 45.4 percent strikeout rate, but he's hitting the ball hard enough to have a .232/.296/.424 line. That's good for a 95 wRC+, which may be below expectations but is perfectly adequate for someone who can play a competent center field. Albert Almora will start in center Monday.
May 11 2018Happ is starting in center field and batting eighth in Friday's game against the White Sox.Albert Almora had a three-hit game the last time the Cubs took the field, but he heads to the bench to make room for Happ, who is slashing .231/.293/.429 with a 45.5 percent strikeout rate this season. Despite Happ's struggles making contact, it appears he and Almora will continue to split playing time fairly evenly, at least in the short term.
May 7 2018Happ went 2-for-5 with two home runs and a career-high five RBI in Monday's win over the Marlins.Happ batted eighth in this one, but the entire Cubs lineup got in on the fun in a 14-2 victory. Coming off of an 0-for-4 performance with three strikeouts on Sunday, it was good to see Happ bounce back, though he did have two more strikeouts Monday. The 23-year-old offers good power potential, but his high strikeout rate (currently at 42.7 percent) will continue to suppress his batting average.
May 6 2018Happ will draw the start in center field and bat sixth in the order Sunday against the Cardinals.Happ will start for just the third time in the last six games, as a .688 season-long OPS has kept the young utility player from serving as an everyday starter. He has just one base hit in the month of May, but has a good chance to turn things around against opposing starter Michael Wacha. Happ is 3-for-9 with two long balls against Wacha in his career.
May 2 2018Happ is not at risk for a demotion, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic Chicago reports.The Cubs sent a similarly struggling Kyle Schwarber to the minors for a brief period in the middle of last season and it seemed to have the desired effect, so it's certainly not a maneuver the organization is afraid to use. For now, the Cubs appear content to let Happ and his 45.5 percent strikeout rate figure things out at the major-league level. He is at least hitting better lately, with a .304 average over his last nine games. He also does enough other things to remain valuable despite his lack of contact, as he's still managed a .236/.286/.389 line, good for a bad but not awful 84 wRC+. That's high enough for someone who can play second base and center field to at least remain on the roster, and it's enough for him to be just barely above replacement level according to fWAR.
Apr 29 2018Happ is out of the lineup Sunday against the Brewers.The Cubs have been satisfied with the work Albert Almora has done as their primary center fielder and leadoff man and recently activated Ben Zobrist (back) from the 10-day disabled list, seemingly closing off Happ's path to regular at-bats. Happ's status as a switch-hitter who can play multiple spots should afford him at least a handful of starts per week, but he'll need to cut down his 44.3 percent strikeout rate before reclaiming a full-time role.
Apr 26 2018Happ is out of the lineup against Milwaukee on Thursday.Happ will take a seat on the pine for the series opener as Albert Almora draws the start in center field against Chase Anderson. Over his last 10 appearances, Happ is hitting .345/.387/.621 with two home runs and four RBI.
Apr 24 2018Happ went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Indians.Happ slugged one of the Cubs' four solo homers off Josh Tomlin in the first four frames of Tuesday's contest. The 23-year-old has experienced a slow start to his 2018 campaign but recently made some mechanical changes to his approach at the plate. These changes appear to be paying early dividends, as Happ has collected five hits in his last three starts and only struck out once during that stretch. Happ is showing signs of life as we enter the fourth week of the regular season.
Apr 22 2018Happ is not in the lineup Sunday against the Rockies.Happ went 1-for-3 Saturday but has been squeezed for playing time recently as second baseman Javier Baez and center fielder Albert Almora have each been swinging scorching hot bats. Happ's 44.6 percent strikeout rate and nearly 30 percent soft-contact rate haven't helped his cause, either. Almora will grab the start in center field Sunday with Tommy La Stella manning second base.
Apr 20 2018Happ is out of the lineup for the second day in a row Friday against the Rockies.Happ gets a rare day off against a righty, though it's not too surprising after manager Joe Maddon indicated that his workload was set to decrease. The 23-year-old is hitting .204/.264/.367 through 53 plate appearances. His .364 BABIP suggests that he's lucky to even be doing that well, and his 47.2 percent strikeout rate is the highest among all qualified hitters. Some time out of the lineup could possibly do him some good.
Apr 19 2018Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Happ is working through some changes with hitting coach Chili Davis and will see less time in the leadoff spot, Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com reports.Maddon also said that Happ will likely play a little less while the outfielder works on his swing, which should give more playing time to Albert Almora and Ben Zobrist (back). Over the course of 13 games this season, Happ's slash line is .204/.264/.367 while he's recorded 25 strikeouts in 53 plate appearances. Happ is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against St. Louis.
Apr 19 2018Happ is out of the lineup against the Cardinals on Thursday.Happ will retreat to the bench in favor of Albert Almora in center field. During his past two starts, Happ has gone 0-for-8 with six strikeouts, which lowered his season batting average to .204 with a .631 OPS.
Apr 17 2018Happ was added to Tuesday's lineup and will start in center field while hitting leadoff against St. Louis, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.Happ had initially been omitted from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cardinals. However, Ben Zobrist was scratched do to back tightness, resulting in Happ being a late addition. Over the last seven games, Happ has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with a home run.
Apr 17 2018Happ is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Cardinals.Happ has four hits in his past three starts, but he'll head to the bench after a three-strikeout performance in his last outing. Jason Heyward will take over in center field for the evening.
Apr 15 2018Happ is not in the lineup Sunday against the Braves.Happ posted multi-hit performances on Thursday and Friday but went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts during Saturday's thrilling comeback win. He'll get the day off with Jason Heyward set to patrol center field and Ben Zobrist taking over in right.
Apr 13 2018Happ is not in the lineup Friday against the Braves.Happ began the year on the long side of a platoon with Albert Almora, but after his early struggles, he's starting to cede time to Almora against righties as well. Happ is hitting .216/.275/.405 so far, good for an 87 wRC+, and he can't blame bad BABIP luck, as his BABIP is .353. What he can blame is an astronomical 45 percent strikeout rate, the second highest in the league among qualified hitters. Happ struck out 31.2 percent of the time in his major-league debut, but his strikeout rates in the minors all fell between 21 and 24 percent, so there was hope that he could improve in that area this year. He still has the potential to turn things around, but it's undoubtedly been a disappointing start.
Apr 13 2018Happ was added to the Cubs' lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.Albert Almora was scratched due to an illness, so Happ will take over in center for the second straight game while batting out of the leadoff position. During Thursday's series finale versus the Pirates, Happ went 2-for-4 with a double, raising his batting average to .216 on the year.
Apr 11 2018Happ is not in the starting nine against Pittsburgh on Wednesday.Happ will retreat to the bench with left-hander Steven Brault starting for the Pirates. Manager Joe Maddon loaded up on a right-handed hitting lineup with Albert Almora drawing the start in center and Ben Zobrist getting the nod in left.
Apr 8 2018Happ is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.Happ delivered a clutch two-RBI hit in the ninth inning of Saturday's contest but has been scuffling at the plate in the early going this season. Through 30 plate appearances, the 23-year-old is slashing .179/.233/.286 with an absurd 56.7 percent strikeout rate. Albert Almora draws center field duties in his absence.
Apr 7 2018Happ went 1-for-5 with two RBI in Saturday's win over the Brewers, but he also struck out three more times.The two RBI are nice, but Happ is still striking out too much to really get his bat going. In 30 plate appearances this season, he now has 17 strikeouts. Happ offers nice power and speed potential, but his batting average, which is currently at .179, will likely continue to suffer as long as he's whiffing this often.
Apr 6 2018Happ is not starting Friday against the Brewers.Friday's game marks the first time Happ has sat against a right-handed pitcher this year. It could be a chance for the 23-year-old to clear his head, as he's hitting .136/.208/.273 with a 58.3 percent strikeout rate so far this year. Jason Heyward will slide over to center field with Ben Zobrist starting in right and leading off.
Apr 3 2018After hitting a home run on the first pitch he saw this season, Happ acknowledged he may have gotten too pull happy, which has contributed to a 1-for-15 slump since the blast, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.Manager Joe Maddon said Happ has perhaps been trying too hard to drive the ball to right field, and the 23-year-old agreed. "That's something that's very fixable, something that I'm addressing and working on," he said. Happ offers solid power potential, but after striking out in 31.2 percent of his at-bats last season, he appears to be a player who could be prone to occasional cold streaks like the one he's been on since the Opening Day home run. He already has 10 strikeouts in 16 at-bats this season, and Happ will need to bring that rate down some if he wants to get going at the plate.
Apr 3 2018Happ is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.Happ again takes a seat against a left-handed pitcher, as he's done against both lefties that the team has faced previously this season. Albert Almora will again take his place in what appears to be a straight platoon in center field. That would cut into Happ's playing time, though at least he'll be on the long side of the platoon, and he could still see time at other positions when the Cubs face left-handers.
Apr 2 2018Happ is starting in center and leading off in Monday's game against the Reds.After getting a day off Sunday, Happ is back in there as the leadoff hitter for the first game of the Cubs' series in Cincinnati. The 23-year-old is just 1-for-13 with eight strikeouts to begin the season, though the lone hit was a leadoff home run on Opening Day.
Apr 1 2018Happ is not in the lineup Sunday against the Marlins.Happ occupied center field in two of the first three games for Chicago, but will give way to Albert Almora -- who will also be leading off -- for the afternoon series finale.
Mar 30 2018Happ is out of the lineup against the Marlins on Friday.Happ will get the day off after going 1-for-5 with a leadoff home run during Thursday's Opening Day victory. In his place, Albert Almora draws the start in center while batting atop the Cubs' order.
Mar 29 2018Happ, who is starting in center field and leading off Thursday, will be the Cubs' leadoff hitter whenever he is in the lineup, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.He won't be a true everyday player for the Cubs, but he will be in the lineup more often than not, and manager Joe Maddon went on the record on Opening Day saying Happ will be his leadoff hitter whenever he's in the lineup. He walked at a 9.4 percent clip last season and got on base at a .328 clip. Happ could improve on both of those marks in his first full season in the majors, which could allow him to approach 90 runs, even without everyday at-bats.
Mar 29 2018Happ went 1-for-5 with a leadoff home run in Thursday's win over the Marlins.Happ started Opening Day off on a good note for the Cubs, going deep off Miami starter Jose Urena in the top of the first inning. The 23-year-old also struck out three times in this one, something he did 31.2 percent of the time in 2017. Happ should put up good counting stats this season, but the strikeouts could continue to limit his batting average.
Mar 25 2018Happ is likely to be the Cubs' leadoff hitter on Opening Day, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.This isn't much of a surprise, as the Cubs identified Happ as a top candidate to bat leadoff early in camp. The 23-year-old has done nothing to relinquish the job during spring training, as he's slashing .333/.418/.875 in Cactus League action with five leadoff home runs (seven home runs overall). As a rookie last year, Happ scored 62 runs in 115 games, and he should soar past that mark in his second season batting in front of the likes of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.
Mar 21 2018Happ will be the Cubs' primary leadoff hitter, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.Happ hasn't been officially named to the role, and manager Joe Maddon is a known tinkerer, so others such as Albert Almora will hit leadoff from time to time. Still, the expectation is that Happ will lead off the majority of the time that he's in the lineup. If that is indeed what happens, Happ should see an uptick in runs while batting in front of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, though he'll miss out on opportunities to drive the pair in, so the overall effect won't be large.
Mar 2 2018Happ has five hits and three home runs in just 10 at-bats so far in spring training.After clubbing 24 home runs in 364 at-bats as a rookie last year, Happ looks poised for another big season in the power department if early returns are any indication. The 23-year-old is also competing for the leadoff spot this spring. If he wins the job and bats in front of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, he should see an uptick in runs, though he'd likely have fewer RBI opportunities. No matter where he bats, Happ is shaping up to be a fantasy force for many years to come.
Feb 23 2018Happ is auditioning for the Cubs' leadoff spot, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Happ hit leadoff in the Cubs' Cactus League opener against the Brewers on Friday. Manager Joe Maddon cautioned against reading too much into a spring lineup, but said that Happ, Kyle Schwarber, and Albert Almora are among those in contention for the the leadoff role. Happ led off eight times for the Cubs in 2017, though his .328 on-base percentage is somewhat low for a table-setter. If he were to win the job and bat in front of Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, his run total would jump up, but that would be offset by a drop in RBI, so the net effect won't be huge.
Feb 22 2018The Cubs may lean heavily on Happ in a utility role to reduce the workload of Ben Zobrist this season, the Chicago Tribune reports.A clear-cut plan for how the playing time will be divided between second base and the three outfield spots has not be revealed, but Happ is expected to move around often as he can spell Kyle Schwarber or Jason Heyward against lefties, handle center field against tough righties when Albert Almora sits, and fill in for Javier Baez at the keystone if desired. Nevertheless, it sounds like he's positioned to at least match the 413 plate appearances he racked up last season, and it's worth noting that Zobrist nearly reached 500 plate appearances a year ago, a feat that seems highly unlikely in 2018.
Oct 19 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Thursday.Over the course of the playoffs, Happ is just 0-for-6 at the plate with five strikeouts and a walk, and will remain on the bench for another elimination game against Clayton Kershaw. Albert Almora will patrol center and Kyle Schwarber gets the nod in left for Thursday's affair.
Oct 17 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Tuesday.Happ will head to the bench as manager Joe Maddon deploys an outfield consisting of all left-handed hitters (Kyle Schwarber, Jon Jay, Jason Heyward) against righty Yu Darvish. Happ is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts this postseason, so while he'll be available off the bench, Maddon may choose to turn elsewhere late in the game.
Oct 12 2017Happ is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 5 of the NLDS against the Nationals.Happ's lone start this series came in Game 2 against Gio Gonzalez, but with the left-hander back on the mound Thursday for the decisive Game 5, manager Joe Maddon will roll with Albert Almora in center and Jon Jay in left field. Over the course of this series, Happ has gone 0-for-3 at the plate with a pair of strikeouts and one walk, all of which came in Game 2.
Oct 11 2017Happ is out of the lineup for Game 4 of the NLDS against Washington on Wednesday.Although Tuesday's game was postponed due to weather, manager Joe Maddon will trot out the same starting nine that he had on the lineup card, which places Happ on the bench. With right-hander Tanner Roark taking the mound, Jon Jay will patrol center field and bat atop the order.
Oct 10 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Nationals on Tuesday.As has been the case all postseason, Happ will head to the bench with a right-handed starter (Tanner Roark) toeing the rubber for the opposition. With Happ out, Jon Jay will slide over to man center field while Kyle Schwarber draws the start in left field.
Oct 9 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLDS against the Nationals on Monday.Happ will retreat to the bench with a right-handed starter (Max Scherzer) returning to the mound for the Nationals. In his stead, the Cubs will deploy Kyle Schwarber, Jon Jay and Jason Heyward -- all left-handed hitters -- from left to right in the outfield.
Oct 6 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Game 1 of the NLDS against Washington on Friday.Manager Joe Maddon will go with Jason Heyward in center and Ben Zobrist in right, while Happ remains on the bench for the opener. Over the course of the 2017 season, he's hit .253/.328/.514 with 24 home runs and 68 RBI.
Oct 1 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.Happ has scored four runs and racked up five RBI in his past three starts, but he'll be given the day off as the Cubs square off against the Reds in Game 162. Jon Jay takes over in center field with Ben Zobrist starting in left and Javier Baez drawing the start at the keystone.
Sep 29 2017Happ went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and two runs scored during Friday's win over Cincinnati.The round tripper came in the bottom of the eighth inning and put the Cubs ahead for good. It was the 24th homer of the season for Happ, and he now sports a .256/.329/.519 slash line with 67 RBI, eight stolen bases and 61 runs through just 406 plate appearances. His eligibility at multiple positions and cross-category profile will make him a strong fantasy asset again in 2018, but he still might not be a lock to receive full-time at-bats.
Sep 28 2017Happ went 1-for-4 with a solo homer and a walk in Thursday's 2-1, 11-inning victory over St. Louis.Happ hit his 23rd home run of the season off starter Lance Lynn in the first inning, accounting for all the scoring from his side until Taylor Davis drove in the winning run in the 11th. The versatile fielder has also been hot at the plate of late, mashing three extra-base hits while scoring five runs in his last three starts.
Sep 27 2017Happ is not in the lineup against the Cardinals on Wednesday.Happ heads to the bench after going 1-for-4 with a triple and a pair of runs during Tuesday's loss. Jon Jay will pick up a start in center while Ben Zobrist slides over to left for Wednesday's affair.
Sep 26 2017Happ went 1-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored in Tuesday's 8-7 loss at St. Louis.Happ took a bad route in center field to allow a Randal Grichuk triple in the first inning, but redeemed himself with a triple of his own in the top of the next frame and added an outfield assist in the third after taking another bad route to begin the play. In addition to his contributions at the plate, Happ also played center field, left field and second base at different times in this one.
Sep 25 2017Happ is not in the lineup Monday against the Cardinals.With Happ out of the lineup, Jon Jay will move over to center field while Ben Zobrist heads to left, leaving room to Javier Baez at second base. In the month of September, Happ has hit .259 with a .737 OPS over 19 games. Strikeouts have continued to get the best of him, as he's struck out in 25 of his 64 plate appearances in that time.
Sep 24 2017Happ went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's loss to the Brewers.After sitting out the previous two games, Happ was busy in his return to the lineup. Manager Joe Maddon has been leaning on veterans like Jon Jay and Jason Heyward in the outfield, and with Kyle Schwarber getting plenty of at-bats too, Happ has been squeezed. But the 23-year-old is talented, and he should still find his way into the lineup a few more times before the regular season is over.
Sep 24 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.Happ will head to the bench for another routine day of rest after Saturday's solid showing in which he went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Albert Almora will take over in center field and bat eight in his stead.
Sep 22 2017Happ is not in the lineup against the Brewers on Friday.Happ will stay on the bench for the second straight game while Jon Jay receives another start in center. Over the course of September, Happ is hitting .241/.300/.389 with two home runs, 11 RBI and 25 strikeouts.
Sep 21 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.Happ is just 1-for-7 with five strikeouts over his previous two starts, so he'll head to the bench for Thursday's series opener after starting seven of the last nine games for the Cubs. In his place, Jon Jay is starting in center field and batting leadoff.
Sep 17 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.Happ has been a run-producing machine recently, driving in seven runs over the past five games. Despite his recent production at the plate, he'll receive the afternoon off with Albert Almora taking over in center field and batting sixth.
Sep 15 2017Happ is out of the lineup against the Cardinals on Friday.Happ retreats to the bench after starting the past four games, with manager Joe Maddon choosing to go with Jason Heyward, Jon Jay and Kyle Schwarber in the outfield for the series opener. Since the beginning of the month, Happ is slashing .231/.295/.436 with two home runs and eight RBI.
Sep 10 2017Happ went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Brewers.Happ recorded his first hit of the weekend series and also stole his eighth base of the season. The 23-year-old continues to produce across multiple categories for the Cubs, as he's posted 21 home runs, 50 runs scored and 55 RBI to date.
Sep 8 2017Happ went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored in Thursday's win over the Pirates.Happ led off for the Cubs and he was productive. The 23-year-old has been a big factor for Chicago this season, and he's now slashing .259/.332/.528 with 21 home runs, 49 runs scored and 55 RBI. He's also chipped in seven steals in 10 attempts.
Sep 3 2017Happ went 2-for-4 with a solo homer Sunday against the Braves.Happ provided the only offense for Chicago in the second inning of what surprisingly ended up being a quiet performance offensively. The switch-hitting rookie hit just three of his 20 home runs coming in against lefties, but got his fourth such long ball in this one against southpaw Max Fried. Happ's living up to the expectations for a ninth overall draft pick with a .256/.330/.529 line.
Aug 30 2017Happ went 3-for-5 with a double, a homer, four RBI and two runs in Wednesday's 17-3 pummeling of the Pirates.Happ had picked up just 16 at-bats over the Cubs' last nine games, as playing time has been getting harder to come by for him. However, he's now got a 20-homer rookie season to his credit, and the fact that all those long balls have come in just 323 plate appearances is quite promising. Happ still needs to cut down on his strikeouts, but his power upside is among the best around.
Aug 26 2017Happ is out of the lineup Saturday against the Phillies.The Cubs will give Happ a breather after his 0-for-4 Friday outing. Albert Almora will start in center field and hit sixth with Happ out of the lineup. Happ's rookie season has gone very well thus far, as he's logged 19 home runs and 46 RBI over 84 games. His .245 batting average has room to climb if the 23-year-old cuts down on the strikeouts, as he's struck out in over 30 percent of his plate appearances since being called up.
Aug 24 2017Happ went 1-for-2 with a solo homer and two walks Thursday in Cincinnati.Happ got the scoring started with a second-inning long ball. He has heated back up of late, launching four homers in the past six games after managing only two in his previous 27. The ninth pick in the 2015 draft has already blossomed into a tremendous asset, bringing solid production from both sides of the plate while spending time at second base and all three outfield spots defensively.
Aug 23 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.Ben Zobrist will start at second base and hit third while Happ heads to the bench. Happ's power has been on full display lately, as he's mashed three home runs and notched six RBI over the last five games. However, he's also struck out in eight of his 18 at-bats in that time.
Aug 20 2017Happ went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Blue Jays.Happ took Toronto starter Nick Tepesch deep in the fourth inning for his 18th home run of the season, which cut a two-run deficit in half. The 23-year-old now has three home runs over his last three games, and he's been a solid fantasy contributor in his rookie season despite a .249 average.
Aug 17 2017Happ went 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI during Thursday's loss to Cincinnati.The rookie's playing time has taken a hit of late, as he's received just 35 at-bats in August. It's difficult to rely on Happ without more consistent starts, and while he's flashed both power and speed while in the lineup, he has just eight RBI and eight runs for the month. Additionally, it's worth noting that the Cubs are currently without both Addison Russell (foot) and Willson Contreras (hamstring), and Happ is still just a part-time player.
Aug 15 2017Happ is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Reds.With Happ sitting against a right-handed pitcher (Luis Castillo) for the fourth consecutive game, it appears that he's now fallen into the weak side of a platoon in center field with Jon Jay. Happ surged into the All-Star break with an .870 OPS to go with 13 home runs and three stolen bases in 183 at-bats, but his production has cratered over the past month. He's hitting just .224 with five extra-base hits and eight RBI in the second half.
Aug 14 2017Happ homered in his only at-bat off the bench during Sunday's win over the Diamondbacks.Happ connected off of Arizona reliever Jake Barrett in the eighth inning for his 15th home run of the year, which came right after a three-run bomb from teammate Javier Baez. Happ has been getting most of his playing time at second base lately, but he's also proven capable in the outfield, and his versatility and strong production has gotten him in the starting lineup most days. Expect to see him back in there Monday against the Reds.
Aug 14 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.Despite knocking a pinch-hit homer in Sunday's win over the Diamondbacks, Happ will head to the bench for a second straight game, and the third time in five contests. Jon Jay will take over for him in center field for the contest, batting leadoff. While Happ is batting just .224 in 23 games since the All-Star break, his versatility has still allowed him to start more games than not.
Aug 13 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.Happ has been seeing most of his playing time at second base recently, but he will be withheld from the lineup as the Cubs close out their series against Zack Godley and the Diamondbacks. Jon Jay draws the start in center field while Tommy La Stella takes over at second base.
Aug 9 2017Happ went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Giants.Happ delivered most of the Cubs' offense in a 6-3 loss. The 22-year-old is striking out a lot (29.6% K rate), but with 14 home runs and an .815 OPS, Happ is proving to be a strong fantasy contributor in his rookie season.
Aug 7 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.Happ will head to the bench for the third time in four games as Albert Almora takes over for him in center field. The switch-hitter has been cold at the plate recently, so manager Joe Maddon may continue to give him days off in order to get Almora and Jon Jay in the lineup more frequently.
Aug 5 2017Happ is out of Saturday's lineup against Washington.Happ retreats to the bench for the sixth time in the past nine games as Jon Jay continues to see regular starts in center. Since July 18, Happ is just 5-for-35 with 12 strikeouts, and he could remain on the pine while manager Joe Maddon rides the hotter hand.
Aug 4 2017Happ is not in the Cubs' lineup Friday against the Nationals.His late-season slide keeps him parked on the pine for the second time in three games, and as long as Jon Jay is playing competently, Happ's avenues for playing time will continue to dry up.
Aug 2 2017Happ is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.Although Happ homered in Tuesday's game, he's hitting just above the Mendoza Line over the past 14 games, so he'll hit the bench for a night off. Jon Jay will patrol center field in his stead.
Jul 30 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.Happ has been mired in a bit of a slump recently, with just three hits in his previous 24 at-bats. He'll get the day off with Albert Almora taking over in center field, batting seventh.
Jul 27 2017Happ is not in the lineup Thursday against the White Sox.Happ will head to the bench after starting the past two games, including a rough 0-for-5 day at the plate during Wednesday's win. Manager Joe Maddon gives him a chance to clear his head while placing Albert Almora in center for the series finale.
Jul 24 2017Happ is out of the lineup Monday against the White Sox, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Happ is batting an underwhelming .233/.281/.300 since the All-Star break, so he'll hit the bench for the second time in three days as manager Joe Maddon deploys Jon Jay in center field. The wealth of options the Cubs have at their disposal means that Happ will have to hit well in order to guarantee himself an everyday role, so he'll likely need to improve his production over his subsequent appearances to avoid losing out on starts more often to the likes of Jay, Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez.
Jul 22 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals.Jon Jay will take over in center field and bat eighth against right-hander Adam Wainwright. While Happ hasn't done a ton of note since the break, he's still slashing .281/.339/.526 for the month of July. The 22-year-old figures to continue seeing regular starts as his bat has more than made up for his slight deficiencies in the field.
Jul 18 2017Happ is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Braves.Happ has doubled in two straight contests and holds a .925 OPS over the past 30 games, but he'll get his first day off since June 12. Albert Almora will patrol center field in his stead.
Jul 17 2017Happ went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Orioles.The rookie continues to find himself in the lineup most days, and he's produced 13 home runs, 33 RBI and an .859 OPS in 195 at-bats. With fairly regular playing time in a potent Chicago lineup, Happ could be in for a big second half of the season.
Jul 3 2017Happ went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Sunday's win over the Reds.Happ went deep off of Reds starter Tim Adelman in the second and fourth innings, with the first blast a two-run shot. Happ now has 12 home runs in just 159 at-bats, and his slash line is up to a solid .264/.331/.566. Look for the 22-year-old to continue receiving regular playing time in a strong Cubs lineup, which should give him the chance to put up an excellent second half of the season.
Jun 23 2017Happ went 4-for-5 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Thursday's win over the Marlins.Happ's first multi-hit performance since June 16 was also his first career four-hit game. In fact, the youngster had yet to record even three hits in a game. The big night raised Happ's batting average from .221 to .246. He's also got a strong .916 OPS.
Jun 21 2017Happ went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Wednesday's loss to the Padres.The long ball, a fourth-inning shot off Craig Stammen, was Happ's fifth in his last eight games and 10th of the year. He has struck out 42 times in 113 at-bats this season, and those swing-and-miss tendencies will make it difficult for him to see significant batting average growth. However, Happ's slugging, ability to take a walk and defensive versatility should allow him to stay with the big-league club for the foreseeable future.
Jun 20 2017Happ went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, a walk and two strikeouts against the Padres on Tuesday.The three-true-outcomes day echoed Happ's MLB career to this point -- plenty of homers along with plenty of strikeouts and a decent amount of walks. He's gone yard four times in the last seven games, but Happ has just a .250 batting average in that span and a .218 season mark. Happ has a history of being a high-BABIP hitter in the minors, though, and his current mark with the Cubs is only .254, so he'll probably see more singles start falling in before long.
Jun 14 2017Happ hit his seventh homer of the year Wednesday -- his only time on base in a 1-for-4 effort against the Mets.After Anthony Rizzo led off the game with a homer, Happ followed right behind him to make it back-to-back jacks. He also didn't make any of those outs via strikeout, which is nice to see alongside his second homer in as many days. Happ's power continues to manifest itself fairly regularly, but it'd be nice to see him lift his batting average from its current .209 mark. Generally a high-BABIP hitter in the minors, Happ has just a .255 BABIP here in his rookie campaign, though, so he's had some poor fortune that should reverse itself in time.
Jun 13 2017Happ went 1-for-5 with a grand slam, a walk and four strikeouts in Tuesday's 14-3 romp over the Mets.You won't often see a .207 average paired with an .806 OPS, but that's exactly what Happ is pulling off right now, as he's drawing plenty of walks to go with his six homers in 100 plate appearances. His second-inning long ball Tuesday turned an early 2-1 lead into the beginning of a rout, but Happ also picked up his second golden sombrero of the season. While rookie's shown impressive power in his first taste of the majors, he's also striking out at a 37 percent clip. Happ's multidimensional skill set and history of making much better contact in the minors both suggest that he'll adjust and improve on that front; just don't base your roster plans on him doing so this season.
Jun 12 2017Happ is not in the lineup Monday against the Mets.Happ is just 6-for-55 (.109) over his last 18 games, so he'll head to the bench for a third straight contest. Jon Jay will draw the start over him in center field against Jacob DeGrom.
Jun 11 2017Happ is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.Apart from his impressive two-homer game last Sunday, Happ has struggled mightily at the dish over the past few weeks. The 22-year-old is just 5-for-25 in the month of June, though four of those five hits have been for extra-bases. Jon Jay will take over in center field and bat leadoff Sunday.
Jun 10 2017Happ is out of Saturday's lineup against the Rockies.Long-term outlook aside, Happ is hitting .146 with a 40.7 percent strikeout rate over his last 48 at-bats, so he could use a day off. Albert Almora Jr. is starting in center field and hitting sixth.
Jun 8 2017Happ went 1-for-4 with a homer, a walk and two runs against Miami on Wednesday.After spending two games on the bench, he returned to the lineup with a bang, though he also struck out against Marlins closer A.J. Ramos with the tying run on second in the bottom of the eighth -- one of two whiffs on the day for Happ. After slumping for a bit, Happ's warmed back up, going 5-for-16 over his last five games (four starts).
Jun 7 2017Happ will start in center field and lead off Wednesday against the Marlins.Happ was limited to a bench role the last two games, but that was less due to manager Joe Maddon's dissatisfaction with his play than it was Maddon's desire to find some at-bats for fellow young center field Albert Almora. It still looks like Happ, who is slashing .235/.333/.515 in 78 plate appearances since his promotion to the big leagues, will settle into the larger portion of a platoon at the position.
Jun 6 2017Happ is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Marlins.This marks the second day in a row that Happ will sit the bench. It seems like more of an effort to get more right-handed bats into the lineup against Miami southpaw Jeff Locke, but it could also be a reflection of Happ's recent performance (.620 OPS over his past 14 games played). Albert Almora will pick up another start in center field to replace him.
Jun 5 2017Happ is not in the lineup Monday against the Marlins.Despite hitting two home runs in Sunday's contest, Happ is still batting below the Mendoza Line over his past 14 games. He'll get a night off with Albert Almora taking over in center field to replace him.
Jun 5 2017Happ went 2-for-5 with a pair of homers and four RBI in Sunday's win over the Cardinals.The rookie logged his first multi-homer MLB game while notching a career-high four RBI to push the Cubs past its division rival. Through his first 20 games, Happ owns a .235 average with a respectable .840 OPS.
Jun 2 2017Happ is leading off and playing center field Friday against the Cardinals.Happ has iced the hot start that followed his debut call-up, going 2-for-28 in his last nine games, striking out 13 times and walking twice. Putting him at the table-setting spot feels like a better use of his skills, so this may kick-start the contact-friendly stick. Fantasy owners who've stayed true through his struggles could be rewarded soon, though it may not come against Lance Lynn, who's dazzled in his return from Tommy John rehab.
May 30 2017Happ is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Padres.Happ is just 2-for-22 (.091) over his last seven games, so he'll take a seat for the second time in as many days as Jon Jay draws the start in center field. While Happ has certainly cooled off recently, he's still sporting an .825 OPS with two homers, so there hasn't been any indication of a demotion at this point.
May 29 2017Happ is out of the lineup Monday against the Padres.Happ had worked his way into the lineup for six games in a row, drawing starts at second base and in the outfield. He'll take a seat Monday with Ben Zobrist (wrist) returning, but there hasn't been any indication of a looming demotion just yet. Happ has certainly proven his worth during this 14-game stint, posting a .841 OPS with two home runs.
May 27 2017Happ is batting fifth and playing second base Saturday against the Dodgers, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.After playing strictly in the outfield since being called up to the big club May 13, Happ is set to make his first major-league start at the keystone as Javy Baez and Ben Zobrist both head to the bench. The 22-year-old made 107 starts at second base in the minors.
May 22 2017Happ is not in the lineup Monday against the Giants.Happ has forced his way into a prominent role in the Cubs' lineup thanks to a 9-for-26 (.346) showing at the plate since his callup. However, he'll get a chance to rest Monday night with Albert Almora taking over in center field in his stead.
May 20 2017Happ is starting in center field and hitting fifth Saturday against the Brewers alongside Jason Heyward (finger), who was activated from the DL and starting in right field.This is noteworthy simply because it shows Happ still has a prominent role for the Cubs even with Heyward returning from the DL. Jon Jay and Albert Almora may be the ones who get squeezed for playing time, at least as long as Happ continues to swing a hot bat. He is hitting .333/.462/.714 with two home runs and a 6:5 K:BB in 21 at-bats since his promotion.
May 20 2017Happ is starting in center field and hitting fifth Saturday against the Brewers alongside Jason Heyward (finger), who was activated from the DL and starting in right field.This is noteworthy simply because it shows Happ still has a prominent role for the Cubs even with Heyward returning from the DL. Jon Jay and Albert Almora may be the ones who get squeezed for playing time, at least as long as Happ continues to swing a hot bat. He is hitting .333/.462/.714 with two home runs and a 6:5 K:BB in 21 at-bats since his promotion.
May 18 2017Happ went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run during Thursday's win over Cincinnati.Happ has now reached base 11 times in 22 plate appearances for two homers, four RBI, five runs and a .824 slugging percentage. It's an impressive run, and Happ's pushing to stick with the big club for the long haul. Since being promoted Saturday, Happ, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are the only Cubs to start each of Chicago's five games, so the rookie has clearly made an impression. The Cubs will have a difficult roster decision to make when Jason Heyward (hand) returns from the disabled list, but with so many versatile players on the roster, don't be surprised if manager Joe Maddon finds ways to make Happ a fixture in the middle of the lineup. The rookie is already taking practice reps at the corner infield spots and could quickly earn eligibility at a couple more positions, which is always a valuable virtual boost. Even if Happ is returned to Triple-A Iowa, he projects to rejoin the Cubs at some point this season and make a significant fantasy impact once recalled.
May 18 2017Happ is batting cleanup and playing left field Thursday against the Reds.The scorching-hot call-up is finding ways to stick in the lineup, with embattled leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber getting the day off. Happ is making a strong case to remain in the lineup even when Jason Heyward (hand) returns. Perhaps he'll force Jon Jay and Albert Almora to the bench most days.
May 17 2017Happ could work out at the corner infield spots in an effort to get him more playing time, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.Happ already moved from his natural spot at the keystone in order to get into the Cubs' stacked lineup, and with Jason Heyward (hand) nearing a return to action, it wouldn't be a terrible move to allow Happ to stay in the majors. That being said, the 22-year-old's performance at the plate alone has done a lot to prove he's worth keeping in Chicago, but the club's intentions should become clear relatively soon once they're forced to make some roster moves.
May 16 2017Happ is playing center field and batting cleanup Tuesday against the Reds.Happ is 3-for-7 with a home run and two RBI through his first two games with the big club, prompting manager Joe Maddon to put him in the heart of the Cubs' order Tuesday. While Happ's promotion was largely a result of injuries to the Cubs' roster, Maddon hasn't rule out the notion of the prospect sticking around the majors for an extended stay if he continues to swing a hot bat.
May 16 2017Happ went 1-for-3 with a home run, two walks, two runs scored and 2 RBI in Tuesday's win over the Reds.The fifth-inning homer showcased Happ's tremendous power; he was able to get it out to the opposite field on a tough pitch down and away. It was the second home run of his Major League career and fourth hit in three games with the big club. Happ could put his return to Triple-A Iowa on hold if he continues to produce at this clip.
May 15 2017Happ could force the issue and remain at the MLB level if he continues to perform well, Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago reports.Happ's promotion was largely a result of injuries to the Cubs' roster, but manager Joe Maddon said the top prospect could stick around. "Absolutely, if he keeps doing (this), it's hard to say that you don't want him here any longer," Maddon said. "There's other ways to fit him in. But, again, all I want him to do is attack today." Happ's ability to play the middle infield and the outfield could allow him to fill a utility role for the Cubs moving forward. The fact that he has three hits (including a home run) in his first seven MLB at-bats isn't hurting his cause either.
May 13 2017Happ went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's loss to St. Louis.With Kris Bryant (illness) and Addison Russell (shoulder) both on the shelf, the Cubs decided now was the time to give Happ a taste of the Major Leagues. It was a solid debut for Happ, who is considered one of the top prospects in the Chicago system. He slashed .298/.362/.615 with nine homers in 26 games in Triple-A Iowa this season, and should provide some pop in Chicago's lineup for as long as his promotion lasts.
May 13 2017Happ was promoted to the majors from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago reports.Happ will get his first-ever taste of major-league play on Saturday, as he's set to start in right field and hit second against the Cardinals. Happ, one of the top prospects in the Cubs' system, has gone on a tear at Triple-A Iowa recently. Over the last four games, Happ has slugged three home runs and four RBI. However, while it will be exciting for owners to see how Happ's skill translates to the majors, he's expected to return to Triple-A once the Cubs' injury-plagued roster is in better shape.
May 13 2017Happ may be recalled from Triple-A Iowa due to injuries hitting the Cubs' major-league roster, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.At this point in time, no move has been made, but the Cubs are considering bringing Happ up to the majors as Kris Bryant (illness) and Addison Russell (shoulder) have both recently been dealt with injuries. Happ has gotten off to a great start at Triple-A Iowa this season and is hitting .298/.362/.615 after playing in 26 games. However, Happ's stint with the big club would likely be brief and only last until Russell and Bryant are back in full health.