Ian Happ’s season has taken a sharp turn in August, and the Cubs are benefiting from it.
A big reason for his early-season slump was his work against left-handed pitching. In 133 plate appearances, Happ was stuck at .158/.235/.292, a stretch that helped push Chicago to add veteran outfielder Tyrone Taylor at the trade deadline earlier this month. That move has shifted Happ into more of a platoon role, where he’s been protected from some of those tougher matchups - and the results have come fast.
Since Aug. 4, Happ has looked like a different hitter.
Entering Wednesday, he was hitting .250/.329/.515 with a 134 wRC+, along with five home runs, three doubles and 13 RBI over 20 games. For a Cubs team trying to secure a playoff spot in the National League, getting that kind of production from their Gold Glove left fielder has been a major lift.
His overall numbers are also creeping back toward his career standard. He entered the finale against the Diamondbacks with a 111 wRC+, just shy of his 116 career mark. Whether this late push leads the Cubs to consider another extension for him in the offseason remains to be seen, but the combination of Happ’s response and Taylor’s arrival has clearly steadied his season.
Taylor has given Chicago more than just a stopgap, too. He’s filled in against lefties at times and has handled them well, walking nearly a quarter of the time and posting a .300/.462/.300 line against southpaws in a small sample. Since joining the Cubs with Clay Holmes at the deadline, he’s been steady overall, hitting .321/.412/.393 and giving manager Craig Counsell more flexibility while the team waits for Matt Shaw’s return.
The Cubs are at their best when Happ is driving the offense, and right now he’s doing that, with some help from the roster shuffle around him. Ideally, the switch-hitting left fielder would be in the lineup every day. But even in a more limited role, he’s making the most of his chances, and Chicago is in position for a strong finish to the 2026 regular season.
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