Craig Counsell Announces Reason for Nico Hoerner's Removal From Cubs Lineup
The Chicago Cubs are treading water in the National League Central, sitting at 29-24 while in the midst of an eight-game losing streak. The struggles have put pressure on manager Craig Counsell to find ways to spark an offense that, despite ranking second in on-base percentage at .335, has failed to convert runners consistently.
On Monday at PNC Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Counsell opted for rest over routing, holding second baseman Nico Hoerner and right fielder Seiya Suzuki out of the starting lineup.
The rest comes as both players have struggled at the plate. Hoerner is hitting .174 with a .505 OPS over his last 14 games, while Suzuki has been even colder, batting .152 with a .378 OPS in that same stretch.
Counsell pointed to both physical and mental fatigue as the driving factor behind the decision, saying scheduling created a natural moment to step back.
"I think necessary days off that kind of day game travel here... how they're doing just to give them a mental break," Counsell said. "Mental break is probably more what I'd say, physical always, but there's a mental break in there, too." (h/t Elise Menaker of Marquee Sports Network)
Craig Counsell on off days for Nico and Seiya: "I think necessary days off that kind of day game travel here... how they're doing just to give them a mental break. Mental break is probably more what I'd say, physical always, but there's a mental break in there, too." https://t.co/YSDGdjY2KY
— Elise Menaker (@EliseMenaker) May 25, 2026
Both Hoerner and Suzuki are Chicago's two most impactful offensive players, and both are in the final year of their contracts after combining for some of the best individual seasons of their careers in 2025. Last year, Suzuki hit 32 home runs with 103 RBI, while Hoerner batted .297 with 29 stolen bases.
With both out of the lineup, Chicago inserted Michael Conforto in right field and switch-hitter Pedro Ramirez at second base. Whether a day's rest helps Hoerner and Suzuki mentally reset and start chipping away at an eight-game skid remains to be seen.
Related: Dodgers Facing Decision After Max Muncy News
Copyright 2026 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 1:52 PM.