The Chicago Cubs are set to open a three-game weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday afternoon after wrapping up a successful set against the Washington Nationals.
Clay Holmes will take the mound for the home team, facing Cardinals right-hander Matthew Liberatore. Ahead of the first pitch, manager Craig Counsell adjusted his lineup in a notable way involving one of the club’s key contributors.
Seiya Suzuki, who started all three games against the Nationals in right field while hitting second in the order, will not play the field on Friday.
Instead, the veteran outfielder will serve as the designated hitter while remaining in the second spot in the batting order. This move gives Suzuki a break from defensive duties without removing his bat from the lineup.
With Suzuki shifting to DH, Ian Happ will slide over to left field. Pete Crow-Armstrong is set to handle center field, and Tyrone Taylor will start in right.
The rest of the order features Alex Bregman at third, Michael Busch at first, Nico Hoerner at second, Carson Kelly behind the plate, and Dansby Swanson at shortstop, with Holmes starting on the mound.
Suzuki has been a steady presence for the Cubs throughout the 2026 season. In 104 games and 395 at-bats during his fifth year with the organization, he is hitting .271 with 107 hits, 20 home runs, and 70 RBIs. His .476 slugging percentage and .838 OPS reflect a productive year at the plate as the club pushes toward the postseason.
Chicago enters the series with strong momentum. The Cubs hold a 71-51 record and sit 4.0 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.
They currently occupy the top National League Wild Card position and maintain a 6.5-game cushion over the next team outside the playoff picture. With 40 games remaining, the club is well-positioned to secure at least a Wild Card berth and return to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
The decision to give Suzuki a defensive rest comes as the Cubs look to manage their roster carefully during a competitive stretch.
By keeping his bat in the lineup against a divisional rival, Counsell balances the need for rest with the desire to maintain offensive firepower.
Fans at Wrigley Field will see a slightly different defensive alignment in the outfield, but Suzuki’s production from the designated hitter spot remains a central part of the team’s approach for the opener of this important series.
