Chicago Cubs DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ (hamstring) is dealing with a mild left-hamstring strain in camp and won't get into Cactus League games for a bit, according to manager Craig Counsell. However, the Cubs remain optimistic that Happ will be ready for Opening Day at the end of March. The switch-hitting outfielder followed up his first All-Star campaign in 2022 with a .248/.360/.431 slash line, 21 home runs, 35 doubles, four triples, a career-high 84 RBI, a career-high 14 stolen bases and a career-high 86 runs scored in 691 trips to the plate over 158 games in 2023. Not only did Happ clear 20 homers for the third time in his career, but he also took more walks. The 29-year-old is solid across the board and has a solid floor as a No. 3 outfielder for fantasy managers.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki drew a walk as part of his two plate appearances during Friday's Cactus League contest versus the Chicago White Sox. His first-inning free pass was followed by a pop out to first base in the bottom of the third. It's been a solid spring for the 29-year-old in a small sample as he is 2-for-6 with a double and a walk across seven trips to the plate in three games. He will be looking to build off a strong sophomore campaign as Suzuki has been every bit of the five-year, $85 million contract the Cubs signed him to prior to the 2022 season. The outfielder hit .285 with 20 home runs, six stolen bases, and an .842 OPS across 138 appearances in the 2023 campaign. He doesn't offer elite power or speed but his 22 home runs, eight stolen bases, and .271 average projected by ATC make him a quality fantasy asset.

Chicago Cubs corner infielder Patrick Wisdom (quadriceps) was scratched for precautionary reasons in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Colorado Rockies due to right-quadriceps tightness, according to the team. Wisdom's injury doesn't sound very serious, but Chicago could choose to hold him back for another day or two just to be safe early in spring training. In his first three Cactus League contests, the 32-year-old veteran has gone 1-for-8 with a double. Wisdom hit .205/.289/.500 with 23 home runs, 46 RBI and four stolen bases in 97 games in his fourth year with the Cubbies in 2023 over 302 plate appearances. He's recorded 20-plus long balls in each of the last three campaigns, but the one-dimensional power bat doesn't do much else and is a career .214 hitter. Target him as a modest power/corner-infield option late in deep-mixed fantasy leagues.

Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis (concussion) was hit by a pitch in Tuesday's Cactus League game and is in the concussion protocol. He will be sidelined until he's able to clear the league's protocols for head injuries. The 24-year-old's concussion is considered mild, so hopefully he'll be able to get back to work sooner than later in camp. The former second-round pick by the Cubs in 2018 out of high school has an extensive injury history in the minors and has only played in 100-plus games once in five minor-league seasons. Davis slashed .187/.296/.279 with four home runs, 26 RBI and nine stolen bases in 62 games with Triple-A Iowa in 2023 and is ticketed for Iowa again to start the 2024 campaign.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga will make his Cactus League debut on Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cubs signed the Japanese southpaw to a four-year, $53 million deal in the offseason, and the 30-year-old will be locked into a starting rotation spot in Chicago in his first year in the States. Imanaga isn't a hard thrower by any means, but he's crafty and has excellent command of his pitches. In 148 innings in Nippon Professional Baseball last year, he had a nice 2.80 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 174 strikeouts. Imanaga isn't expected to be as dominant with the Cubs in his first season, and how productive he'll be overall could depend on how much he's able to keep the ball out of the air at Wrigley Field. Still, he has excellent stuff and is worth a late-round flier in mixed fantasy leagues for rotation depth.