The first round of this season\u2019s City Series ended Sunday at Wrigley Field with the Cubs\u2019 6-2 win, the first competitive game of the weekend.<\/p>\n
The crosstown rivals won\u2019t meet again until July 25-27 on the South Side, where the importance of the series will likely increase if the Cubs remain in a tight divisional race.<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
Here are three takeaways from the Cubs\u2019 weekend.<\/p>\n
Pete Crow-Armstrong tripled and scored leading off Sunday\u2019s game and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. He\u2019s settled into the leadoff spot while Ian Happ remains on the injured list.<\/a><\/p>\n Crow-Armstrong\u2019s 4.7% walk rate entering Sunday isn\u2019t what you typically like in a leadoff hitter, and Happ will return to his old spot when he gets back.<\/p>\n \u201cGetting things going early is really nice all the time,\u201d Crow-Armstrong said afterward. \u201cBut I get a lot of chances to hit in the first of second innings anyway. There are ways of looking at hitting leadoff (batting seventh), by leading off the third inning. That\u2019s still early to me in a baseball game. Getting the party started is always fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Manager Craig Counsell said Friday it doesn\u2019t matter where Crow-Armstrong hits, and general manager Carter Hawkins reiterated that Crow-Armstrong\u2019s future batting spot remains uncertain<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe skill set that he\u2019s shown thus far is more of a power-type skill set, so it\u2019s hard to reconcile that sometimes with a speed and defense kind of guy,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cHe\u2019s shown the ability to hit the ball over the fence, and when you show that ability, you\u2019d like to have some guys on base to do that. I wouldn\u2019t rule it out.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, Shohei Ohtani hits leadoff. But I do think what we\u2019ve seen from Ian and other elite on-base (percentage) guys, that\u2019s really where the leadoff guy starts to fit in. As that becomes part of Pete\u2019s game, that will become part of the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n Hawkins believes Crow-Armstrong will be pitched to differently now that he\u2019s proven to be a home-run hitter, which theoretically should lead to more walks. But he added that as long as Crow-Armstrong keeps hitting the way he is, they won\u2019t worry about where he\u2019ll hit down the line.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Cade Horton doesn\u2019t care how the Cubs handle him in his first major-league season.<\/p>\n Whether he\u2019s a starter, or the Cubs use an opener, or he\u2019s put in the bullpen, he\u2019s still in the major leagues.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day, my job is to help my team win, so whatever way that is, I\u2019m happy with what I\u2019m doing,\u201d he said Sunday. \u201cHowever they need me \u2014 bullpen, starter, whatever \u2014 it doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cubs used Brad Keller as an opener in Horton\u2019s first start against the New York Mets. Hawkins said that was to give Horton an \u201ceasier landing\u201d due to the strength of the Mets\u2019 lineup.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that being his first experience in Major League Baseball, having (Francisco) Lindor, (Juan) Soto and (Pete) Alonso 1-2-3 on the road in New York,\u201d Hawkins said.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Horton made his first start Friday against the White Sox and is scheduled to start Wednesday in Miami against the Marlins.<\/p>\n Related Articles<\/p>\n