Cubs manager Craig Counsell scrapped his usual order on Saturday, sitting Ian Happ and promoting center‑fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to the leadoff spot against the Houston Astros. Counsell said the move was a simple attempt to give the struggling lineup a new look after a six‑game losing streak.

Happ entered the stretch hitting just 1‑for‑24 overall and a meager .143 with runners in scoring position, the worst of the club’s key hitters. Right fielder Seiya Suzuki and shortstop Dansby Swanson posted .130 and .170 in those situations, underscoring a broader inability to drive runs despite the Cubs ranking second in on‑base percentage.

The shuffle also saw Nico Hoerner drop to fourth in the order, Michael Conforto replace Happ in the fifth slot, and recent call‑ups Pedro Ramirez and Kevin Alcantara added depth. With the roster now trimmed by Nicky Lopez’s DFA, Counsell hopes the altered batting order will spark a rebound, but the team remains mired in a slump that has erased early‑season scoring momentum.