The Chicago Cubs close out their series in Cincinnati on Sunday after a 5-2 victory the night before, but shortstop Dansby Swanson will watch from the bench.
Manager Craig Counsell decided to give the veteran a day of rest following two productive games, including a pair of hits and a solo home run in Saturday’s win at Great American Ball Park.
Swanson had just returned from the injured list on Friday, so the extra day off makes sense as the team manages his workload late in the season.
The two-time All-Star has posted a .220 average with 19 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases across 121 games this year. His absence from the starting nine means Nico Hoerner slides over to shortstop while Pedro Ramirez handles second base.
The Cubs send out a familiar-looking lineup otherwise (via FantasyPros), with Pete Crow-Armstrong leading off in center field, followed by Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, Alex Bregman, Ian Happ, Hoerner, Michael Conforto as the designated hitter, Ramirez, and Miguel Amaya behind the plate.
Fans have grown accustomed to seeing Crow-Armstrong at the top of the order, and the rest of the group has delivered enough production to keep Chicago in the thick of the National League Central race.
At 86-69, the Cubs sit in second place in the division after 155 games. They have gone 5-5 over their last ten contests and hold a 41-36 record on the road.
A win on Sunday would send them back to Wrigley Field with some extra breathing room before they host the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
The decision to sit Swanson reflects Counsell’s careful approach as the regular season winds down.
After two strong days at the plate, the manager opted to err on the side of caution rather than risk further strain on a player still easing back from injury.
For a Cubs team fighting to stay relevant in a competitive division, those small calculations can matter as much as the extra-base hits.
Chicago will look to finish the Cincinnati series on a high note and carry that momentum into the final stretch at home.
Swanson’s rest day is one piece of a larger puzzle as the club tries to stay healthy and productive down the stretch.
