Cubs manager Craig Counsell signals a significant outfield role for Matt Shaw, especially against left-handed pitchers, as the team shapes its 2026 lineup.
The Chicago Cubs will be a very straightforward team in 2026. Their lineup won’t change a whole lot from game to game.
Players like Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki will certainly be in the lineup every day. Michael Busch has also earned the right to play every day and should see more starts against left-handed pitching this year.
At the catcher position, Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya will likely rotate each game. Kelly is coming off a solid all-around campaign, and Amaya is looking to rebound following an injury-riddled 2025 season.
That leaves one spot open in the lineup. Who starts in that final spot will likely depend on whether a right-handed pitcher or a left-handed pitcher is on the mound.
With a righty on the mound, the Cubs will certainly have Moises Ballesteros in that designated hitter spot. Ballesteros batted .309 in his limited at-bats against right-handers in the Majors last season.
When a southpaw is on the mound, Cubs insider Bruce Levine believes that Shaw will start in right field.
“Craig Counsell said that Shaw is ‘definitely going to be getting a lot of time in the outfield,’” Levine said on 104.3 The Score. “When there’s a left-hander on the mound, you can probably bet that Matt Shaw is in the outfield and that Suzuki is your DH.”
It is interesting to hear Counsell say that Shaw will see plenty of time in the outfield this season. But there is a path for him to see consistent outfield reps with a left-handed pitcher on the mound. He will likely be the team’s preferred option in this scenario.
Shaw also posted solid numbers against left-handed pitching last year. He slashed .250/.318/.490 with six home runs, four doubles, one triple, and 14 RBI across 110 plate appearances.
Considering Counsell won’t give Ballesteros many at-bats against left-handed pitching, there’s a real possibility that Shaw does draw a few starts in right field each week.
The outfield is a fairly new position for Shaw. He primarily played shortstop and second base in college and transitioned to third base once the Cubs selected him in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft.
While there is a learning curve to playing the outfield, Counsell has expressed confidence this spring that Shaw will be just fine out there. The 24-year-old has been hard at work at Cubs camp over the past few weeks to get adjusted to his new role.
The Cubs are hoping it’s a smooth transition for Shaw because all signs point to the second-year pro seeing consistent reps in right field throughout the season.