Cubs making Ian Happ change after MLB trade deadline

The Chicago Cubs are making a change after making multiple moves ahead of Monday’s MLB trade deadline. Jesse Rogers of ESPN is reporting that outfielder Ian Happ — who is a switch hitter — will make less starts against left-handed pitching given his struggles from the right side of the plate. Additionally, Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes — who were both recently acquired in trades — will make their Cubs debuts over the upcoming weekend.

Happ, 31, has hit just .215/.327/.413 overall so far during the 2026 campaign. His splits stand out, however. The veteran outfielder is hitting .238/.362/.458 against right-handed pitching, while he has recorded an underwhelming .158/.232/.298 slash line against left-handed pitchers this season.

Happ has still made an impact despite his offensive woes. The four-time Gold Glove winner continues to help matters with his outfield defense. The Cubs would obviously love for more consistent offensive production, but Happ’s performance has still helped his team. He currently has a 2.1 WAR, according to Baseball Reference.

Chicago holds a 64-49 record. The ball club is in second place in the National League Central standings, where they trail the Milwaukee Brewers by 5.5 games for first place. However, the Cubs have the top spot in the National League Wild Card race.

On Tuesday night, Chicago is set to host the Los Angeles Dodgers in a game that will draw no shortage of attention, as Tarik Skubal — who was of course acquired by the Dodgers in a recent trade — is set to make his debut with LA. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 PM ET.