After putting together an early MLB-best 10-game win streak, The Cubs just split a difficult six-game road trip against the Dodgers and Padres. They’ll head back to Wrigley Field this weekend with a 19-12 record, a half-game back of the Reds for the best record in the NL Central.
Impressively, it’s all come as the pitching staff has been absolutely ravaged by injuries, from a season-ending blow for starter Cade Horton to seven different relievers spending time on the IL. Those who have stepped up on the mound take much of the credit, whether that’s Colin Rea, Ben Brown or recent call-up Ryan Rolison.
Manager Craig Counsell’s tinkering with the lineup -- perhaps the deepest of his three seasons in Chicago -- is a big reason why. Let’s dive into three ways Counsell has gotten the most out of his bats through 31 games.
Pinch-hitting
Counsell earned his reputation as one of baseball’s best skippers because of his work over nine seasons with the Brewers, where he manipulated his lineup and bullpen with mastery. In eight of nine years that he held the position, his club finished in the top 10 of MLB in total plate appearances for pinch-hitters.
The Cubs -- 17th in 2024 and 12th in 2025 -- currently stand fourth in 2026 with 36 PAs in the pinch. Counsell has used his bench, primarily featuring Michael Conforto, Matt Shaw and Moisés Ballesteros, aggressively. He has played platoon matchups at several important junctures.
But it’s more than just frequency for the North Siders, there’s been serious success. Cubs pinch-hitters are 1st in OPS (.977), offensive WAR (0.7) and wRC+ (170).
“This is a team,” Counsell said. “This is a team that we’re trying to win games with, and we’re going to go with the best matchups.”
Of course, Counsell could push all the “right” buttons in pinch-hit situations and have players not get results. That just hasn’t been the case so far, including rare opportunities for regulars to come off the bench.
Carson Kelly hit a go-ahead three-run homer against the Mets, Michael Busch sent a game against the Pirates to extra innings with a two-run double, and Alex Bregman provided insurance with an RBI single against the Padres this week.
“[Counsell’s] putting us in positions to have success,” Kelly said. “This group, we’re always prepared. We’re always looking for that opportunity. Just as a group, we’re pulling for each other at all moments.”
Designated hitter
Ballesteros has enjoyed an early breakout as the team’s primary DH, slashing .338/.392/.620 with a 180 wRC+. But Counsell has protected the 22-year-old lefty against same-side pitching, giving him just six plate appearances against southpaws.
Even as there’s a difficult line to walk here, with the Cubs hoping “Mo Baller” develops into a middle-of-the-order hitter for the foreseeable future, the team is built to win now. Taking advantage of such a deep lineup is part of that.
And again, the results speak for themselves. The Cubs are third in DH OPS (.911), behind only the Astros (carried by superstar Yordan Alvarez) and the red-hot Braves. They’re also second in offensive WAR (1.7) and fifth in wRC+ (145).
Counsell has continued to use his DH spot to keep some regulars off their legs in addition to platooning against lefties. Six different players -- Ballesteros, Bregman, Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, Miguel Amaya and Seiya Suzuki -- have received at least one start as the designated hitter. Shaw has also started at five different positions while learning his super-utility role.
It’s turned into the best marks in the Major Leagues against left-handers: first in wRC+ (139) and OPS (.846). And then, Counsell maintains the opportunity to bring Ballesteros and Conforto into any spot he sees fit, bringing those excellent pinch-hitting stats back into play.
“For both Moisés, for Matty Shaw,” Happ said, “to understand that there’s going to be times where the pinch-hitter is going to come in, or there’s times where you’re going to be the pinch-hitter … learning and preparing for those moments, they’ve done a great job. And to have some veterans on the bench to help those guys is huge.”
Catcher
The numbers aren’t quite as eye-catching at catcher (no pun intended) as they are for pinch-hitters and DHs, but Counsell’s flexibility at the spot has been important for the Cubs’ offense and overall roster health.
Kelly (23 games) and Amaya (19) work a nearly even split while managing the patched-up pitching staff and have produced. It’s been especially important to keep Amaya -- once the organization’s top prospect before dealing with myriad injuries -- on the field.
And since Amaya made a swing change in the second half of 2024, Cubs catchers are fourth in MLB with a 110 wRC+. Kelly, too, has been a revelation after signing a two-year contract before 2025, enjoying two of the most productive seasons of his 11-year career.
The point? What Counsell is doing is working. That’s why the Cubs pursued him so hard three years ago. And he has this club rolling just over a month into 2026.