3 Players Who Won't Be on Cubs Potential Postseason Roster
By Ryan Flores
The Chicago Cubs are in the middle of a very tightly contested National League Wild Card race. The club is just 1.5 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the final playoff spot, and they're hanging on for dear life, even while pummeling the Pirates.
There is a chance that the Cubs could create a cushion for themselves, as they could force the St. Louis Cardinals out of first place in the NL central, with just 3.5 games separating the two teams and seven matchups remaining.
With this in mind, let's take a look at three players who will not make the cut for the Cubs' potential postseason roster.
3. Ian Happ
With Javier Baez slated to return in time for the postseason, the Cubs officially have a deep middle infield that includes Baez, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell, and red-hot addition Nico Hoerner. There isn't much room in the outfield for Happ, either, which leaves him without a spot on the postseason roster for the time being. Since being called up in July, Happ has hit just .216 with five homers and 16 runs batted in. If he can somehow change his fortune over the final two weeks of the season, perhaps he can force his way into the conversation. However, it seems as though that won't be happening, as of right now.
2. Jonathan Lucroy
Lucroy is a great veteran catcher to have on your team heading into the postseason. However, the Cubs have the luxury of having two other quality catchers on the roster in a healthy Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini. There simply isn't a need for three catchers in October, and Lucroy doesn't have the kind of bat that Caratini and Contreras have, so he's the odd man out.
1. Tony Kemp
Since the Cubs acquired Kemp from the Houston Astros for Martin Maldonado at the trade deadline, he's been an absolute disappointment. Through 60 at-bats, Kemp has mustered a measly .167 batting average, with just six runs batted in and 15 strikeouts (though some of them have come on brutal calls). The Cubs have more than enough outfield depth at this point, so Kemp will have to wait for an injury if he wants a chance to play with Chicago in the playoffs.