Cubs Using New Starting Third Baseman
One of the biggest questions heading into last offseason was not exactly addressed in the winter, leaving fans wondering who was going to take most of the playing time at third base for the Chicago Cubs in 2023. Well, heading into the second half of the season, the answer is still a mix of names.
For most of the year, Patrick Wisdom and Nick Madrigal have been taking the starts at the hot corner and while both players have had great stretches at the plate, the overall offensive production has been poor for the Cubs out of the third base position. Miles Mastrobuoni was also given a handful of starts, but he contributed very little on offense.
Wisdom is currently on a rehab assignment with the Iowa Cubs and although Nick Madrigal is on his best streak as a member of the Cubs, David Ross is searching for answers to make an inconsistent offense as consistent as it can be.
Cubs fans have been waiting to see Christopher Morel get more playing time at third base and for the first time in 2023, the 23-year-old will be starting at the hot corner against the Cleveland Guardians in Sunday’s series finale at Wrigley Field.
Madrigal is getting the day off, while Cody Bellinger goes back to center field, while Mike Tauchmn moves over to left field to give Ian Happ a breather. Jared Young remains in the lineup, starting at first base and Trey Mancini gets the starting nod as the designated hitter.
Morel is now the fourth different starting third baseman the Cubs have used this season and will be the fifth to play the position. Edwin Ríos logged eight innings off the bench this year at third.
Cubs Third Base Struggles in 2023
Heading into Sunday’s slate of games, the Cubs ranked near the bottom of the league in offensive production out of their third baseman. Again, even with Wisdom’s hot month of April and Madrigal’s hot month of June, the overall numbers are ugly.
Cubs 3B Rankings (Through July 1)
83 wRC+ (26th)
.662 OPS (25th)
.293 OBP (24th)
.369 SLG (23rd)
.208 AVG (27th)
.293 wOBA (24th)
Not good! Bad, actually.
Hopefully Madrigal can continue to be the hitter the Cubs thought they were getting when they traded for him back in 2021 and let’s hope Morel’s defense is at least average at third base, so that the Cubs feel more comfortable giving him starts there when his bat is needed in the lineup.