Alex Bregman is back in the Cubs’ lineup far sooner than most people expected, and he’s doing it in a spot that says plenty about how Chicago views his value. On Friday morning, the Cubs revealed Bregman batting third against a left-handed pitcher, with the veteran set to serve as the designated hitter in the opener against the Red Sox.
That return comes just five days after a frightening scene against the Reds. Bregman was struck in the face by a foul ball, immediately reaching for his face in obvious pain as he bled on the field.
Chicago’s medical staff got him off the field quickly and sent him for additional testing. He later posted images showing a black eye and a swollen face, and the testing showed multiple facial fractures.
Even after that, Bregman made it clear when the Cubs were back at Wrigley Field for the Marlins series that he wanted to get back in the batter’s box as soon as possible. Craig Counsell, who had already hinted that Bregman could return before the Wild Card round, has now given him that chance.
The Cubs are keeping him off the field defensively for now, which makes sense given how recent the injury is. Matt Shaw will handle third base, while Pedro Ramirez has also filled that role during Bregman’s absence. How Chicago manages that spot going forward will be worth watching, but for now the priority is getting Bregman’s bat back into the mix.
And the Cubs have felt the lack of it this week. Their three-game set with the Marlins offered little offensive punch, with Chicago scoring just two runs in each game, including Thursday’s playoff-clinching win. The result was a celebration, but not exactly a sign that the lineup was firing on all cylinders.
Bregman has been one of the Cubs’ best hitters in the second half, and certainly their second-best bat over that stretch. He’s the kind of hitter the team believed it was getting on a five-year deal, and he’s delivered, pairing nicely with NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong in the middle of the order.
Over his last month, Bregman has hit .289/.374/.640. That line includes double-digit home runs, 28 RBIs, 13 strikeouts and 12 walks. He has cooled off a bit in his last seven games, but the overall production still stands out.
Chicago may already have a Wild Card spot secured, but there’s still plenty on the table over the next two days. The Padres own a one-game edge for home-field advantage after beating the Dodgers again Thursday night, and the Cubs would love to finish strong with a sweep of the Red Sox. The Phillies are also just one game back of tying Chicago, though the Cubs do hold the tiebreaker over each of their Wild Card rivals.
Even with the postseason picture mostly settled, Bregman’s return matters. It gives the Cubs their full group for one last push and gives him a chance to find his rhythm before the Wild Card battle begins.
In Other News...
Ian Happs Wrigley Gesture Felt Bigger Than A Normal Thank You
Ian Happ has never been hard to spot as one of the faces of the Cubs, but his latest Wrigley Field gesture landed with a little extra weight. After a recent game, he tossed a ball into the stands with a thank-you message and $300 attached for the fans, a small act that felt meaningful for a player who has spent his entire big league career in Chicago since being drafted in 2015.
It also came with an undercurrent that Cubs fans can feel even if nobody is saying it out loud. Chicago has already wrapped up a postseason spot, but there is no guarantee the club will host a playoff game at Wrigley, and Happ is heading toward free agency after the 2026 season. So a simple thank-you might have carried a subtler message too, because there is still real uncertainty about whether he will get another regular-season sendoff at the ballpark he has called home for so long. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Could Fix A Quiet Lineup Flaw With Their Next Outfield Move
The Cubs have spent plenty of the season looking like one of the more complete offenses in the league, but the front office is already staring at a subtle issue that could become much louder once Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki reach free agency. Jed Hoyer has long valued run prevention, and that likely will not change as the club weighs its next move in the corner outfield.
What makes the discussion interesting is the fit of the lineup itself. Chicago already has the power to do damage, but there is room for a player who can help manufacture runs with small ball, situational hitting and steadier at-bats when the game tightens. If the Cubs go shopping for corner help, the best addition might be the kind that balances the order more than it headlines it. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Rizzo Just Sparked A Cubs Playoff Debate Fans Will Hate
Anthony Rizzo has reignited a familiar October debate around the Cubs, floating a playoff approach that would prioritize the most favorable path once a berth is secured. The former Cubs first baseman suggested that after clinching, the team should back into a matchup with the Braves on the road rather than chase a different bracket, a take that immediately puts roster health, matchup preferences and the value of home-field edge under the microscope.
David Ross, his podcast co-host and former Cubs manager, pushed back on that idea and made the case for keeping the game in Chicago, where Wrigley Field can matter in a short series. The larger concern hovering over the conversation is the possibility of a first-round trip into a hostile setting, with the Phillies looming as the kind of opponent no one around the Cubs would want to see under those conditions. [Read more 🡒]