Can healthy lineup fix Cubs quiet offense?
The Cubs offense has clearly been in a lull. They rank 25th in MLB in batting average (.223) in May.
This week, they were shut out twice in Atlanta, couldn't get a hit off Pirates rookie Paul Skenes, then won 1-0 on Saturday.
A few weeks ago, the line of thinking was the offense would improve when Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki returned from the injured list. Now the goal is to have Dansby Swanson (knee) and Nico Hoerner (hamstring) back in the lineup Tuesday against Atlanta.
“It helps to have the players that you're planning on having in there, in there. No question,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said before Sunday's game. “This is the game, man. We've got to have good at-bats, have guys take turns having big days, we've got to have guys swinging it really well.
“We're hoping Tuesday to have both of those guys (Swanson and Hoerner) in the lineup. I don't think it guarantees we're scoring runs. We're probably going to face Max Fried or Chris Sale on Tuesday. That's a tough task.”
There are plenty of low numbers among Cubs batting averages in May: Ian Happ is hitting .208, Suzuki, Mike Tauchman and Miles Mastrobuoni .200, Miguel Amaya .147, Yan Gomes .130 and Swanson .091 heading into Sunday's action.
Sho's time arrives
After pitcher Shota Imanaga rolled to another successful start Saturday, manager Craig Counsell talked about how the 30-year-old has adjusted so well in his first season in MLB.
“Shota's not young, and I don't mean to say he's old, but I think he's in a place in life where he's very sure who he is,” Counsell said. “That's been evident from early on. He's very confident in his choices, very confident in the people he puts around him.
“If you come here to play, you're looking for an experience. I think that's important, Now, are there going to be challenges with it? Absolutely there's challenges with it. But I think he's looking for the experience of, 'What can I enjoy from a new country?' I think if you take that perspective, it makes the experience a really good one.”
Around the horn
Outfielder Brennen Davis has been on a tear at Triple A Iowa. He's hit 7 home runs in he last eight games, while hitting .500 overall (12 for 24). Davis, 24, was the Cubs' top prospect a few years ago, but had been working to return to form after being sidelined by a back injury in 2022.
Pitcher Ethan Roberts, who appeared in nine games for the Cubs in 2022, is making progress from Tommy John surgery. He threw his first Triple A inning in two years Sunday, and retired all three batters. …
Reliever Daniel Palencia (right shoulder strain) pitched an inning for Iowa on Saturday to begin a rehab assignment. He struck out three, but also gave up 3 runs. … Drew Smyly (right hip impingement) is set to throw Tuesday in Single A South Bend.
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