Ian Happ, left fielder for the Chicago Cubs, found himself watching from the bench on Saturday as the Seattle Mariners debuted left-hander Cade Anderson. Happ’s struggles against left-handed pitchers have led manager Craig Counsell to look at alternatives in the lineup. Kevin Alcántara started in left field while Tyrone Taylor covered right field, and Seiya Suzuki took on the designated hitter role. Happ’s inconsistent performance against left-handers has made Counsell cautious about including him in the lineup during those matchups.

Counsell explained that, although Happ will continue to have opportunities to hit right-handed, adjustments are needed to improve his effectiveness. “He’s going to still have right-handed at-bats,” Counsell stated, “He’s going to continue to work on it and try to get there.” Happ has mostly faced left-handed relievers in the middle-to-late innings. His right-side stats include a .229 average, a .292 on-base percentage, a .521 OPS, and a 34.8% strikeout rate in 132 plate appearances.

Happ expressed his frustration, noting the difficulty of executing damage against pitches he feels capable of hitting. “It’s been tough,” Happ shared. “Last year, despite the lack of results, strong expected metrics comforted me. This year has been challenging because of pitchers’ execution and missing damage opportunities.” Since acquiring Taylor and recalling Alcántara, Counsell has preferred using their right-handed bats against left-handed starters, which has limited Happ’s chances.

“I’m still working on adjustments,” Happ remarked, “but limited at-bats make it hard to adapt consistently. When I get an opportunity that doesn’t work out, I must wait for another chance.” Happ also noted his challenges as a switch-hitter, stating the inconsistency of right-sided at-bats prevented him from determining the effectiveness of his tweaks.

Despite facing difficulties when hitting from the right side, upcoming free agent Happ has recognized a pattern with opposing pitchers favoring offspeed pitches. His performance against these types includes a .072 wOBA and 54% whiff rate on changeups, a .239 wOBA and 58.8% whiff rate on curveballs, and a .239 wOBA and 36.6% whiff rate on sliders. He acknowledged that knowing left-handers will rely on offspeed pitches early in the count puts pressure on making adjustments and seizing fastballs.

“Being disciplined with offspeed early sometimes results in being down 0-1, 0-2,” Happ mentioned. “Adapting is crucial because failing to capitalize on fastballs could mean playing catch-up.” Despite challenges, Happ has earned a 1.048 OPS in late-game situations, with his eighth-inning home run Friday instrumental in pushing the game against the Mariners to extra innings.

Counsell emphasized that while Happ’s position is difficult, more right-handed at-bats could rejuvenate him. “You need at-bats to get on track,” Counsell acknowledged, “but you’re getting fewer at-bats. It’s a challenging situation. Happ will rely on cage practice to maximize opportunities when they arise.” Happ’s ability to impact high-leverage moments underscores his preparation and understanding of relievers’ tactics.

“It’s critical to stay disciplined in pitch selection,” Happ explained, adding that in late-game scenarios, knowing how relievers might approach at-bats is essential. “Being committed to a certain pitch helps handle late-inning situations as relievers deploy their best offers.”