Cubs Bench Ian Happ, Move Pete Crow-Armstrong to Leadoff as 6-Game Skid Deepens

9 articles · Updated · ESPN · May 23

Ian Happ sat out Saturday after going 1-for-24, with Craig Counsell elevating Pete Crow-Armstrong to the leadoff spot and dropping Nico Hoerner to fourth against Houston.
Six straight losses and another missed-chance game Friday drove the shake-up, with Counsell saying Happ especially needed a break as Chicago's offense stalls with runners in scoring position.
The slump has spread beyond Happ: Seiya Suzuki is hitting .130 and Dansby Swanson .170 with men in scoring position, even as the Cubs rank second in on-base percentage.
Chicago has now lost four consecutive series, prompting roster moves as well as lineup changes; Pedro Ramirez was called up Friday, Kevin Alcantara on Saturday, and Nicky Lopez was designated for assignment.

Are these 'one day' changes the first step toward a major roster overhaul for the underperforming Cubs?

Can rookie prospects provide the offensive spark that struggling veterans have failed to deliver for the Cubs?

Is this lineup shakeup a psychological ploy that ignores what advanced statistics suggest is the best strategy?