Ian Happ in power groove as Cubs face Mariners in series finale

Ian Happ likes to think of himself as a table setter for the Chicago Cubs, but he’s performed more like their cleanup hitter lately.

Happ has four home runs in the past three games in the leadoff spot for the Cubs, who will try to win the rubber match of their three-game series against the visiting Seattle Mariners on Sunday afternoon.

Happ has homered in the first inning of the past two games, becoming the first Chicago player to hit a leadoff home run in back-to-back games since Anthony Rizzo in June 2017.

“When the wind is blowing out like this, getting the ball in the air, you’ve got a chance,” Happ said after hitting two home runs in a 10-7 win on Saturday.

The conditions played a big role on Saturday, as six home runs cleared the fence in all, including the wind-driven 30th home run of the season for Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh, who leads the major leagues.

Three outfield flies and a popup behind home plate also were misplayed because of the wind, and the persistent heat claimed home plate umpire Chad Whitson heading into the top of sixth, and Seattle reliever Trent Thornton in the bottom of the eighth.

“We’ve played a ton of games with the wind blowing in, and we haven’t played a lot this year where you have the wind blowing out,” Happ said. “It’s changing balls coming down. It’s going an extra 10-20 feet in those last fractions of seconds. So, you’re battling the sun, you’re battling the wind, just trying to get in the right spot.”

Right-hander Logan Gilbert is set to start the series finale for the Mariners.

Gilbert (1-2, 2.55 ERA) will be making his second start since a seven-week stint on the injured list because of a right elbow flexor strain.

He allowed two runs and three hits over five innings in his return last Monday against the Boston Red Sox, striking out 10 and walking one. Gilbert didn’t receive any run support in the 2-0 home loss.

“I was just really grateful just to play and be out there and do something I love and do it for a job,” Gilbert said. “There’s a lot more than just going out there, middle-of-the-season baseball game. It felt like a bigger deal than that for me.”

Gilbert said he’s just trying to keep things simple, know the batter’s tendencies and hit his targets.

“I have basically two targets,” he said. “We always talk about being really stubborn as to where we want to go.”

Gilbert said his goal is to get two strikes on the batter as quickly as possible and then rely on Raleigh to finish them off.

“I feel like he reads batters really well,” Gilbert said. “Knows when to go splitter, when to go opposite directions, all that kind of stuff.”

Gilbert beat the Cubs in his only start against them, allowing one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-2 road victory on April 12, 2023.

The Cubs plan to start right-hander Colin Rea on Sunday.

Rea (4-2, 3.84) did not receive a decision in his most recent start after allowing two runs and four hits in six innings of a 3-2 win in 10 innings against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on June 15.

Rea had made three starts in his career against Seattle and is 1-0 with a 5.51 ERA in 16 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media