Can the 2026 Chicago Cubs Lineup Deliver? From Potential Breakouts to Established Stars
After an active offseason, the Chicago Cubs’ 2026 lineup will look somewhat different in spots, but much of the core group remains intact. This comes after a season where they already had one of the better lineups in Major League Baseball. It was a group that ranked sixth in the Majors in runs scored with 4.80 runs per game. They also ranked sixth in home runs as a team with an impressive 223 of them on the season. Additionally, Chicago’s lineup was seventh in team OPS with a .750 mark. The Cubs will enter the 2026 season with similarly high expectations, with a significant addition to their infield group via free agency. They also still feature several other core players returning from last year’s squad. They also roster a handful of younger position players who are expected to contribute more than they did last season.
Bregman In, Tucker Out
The Cubs' chaotic offseason was headlined with a blockbuster signing to bolster their infield. The team signed former Astros and Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman to a massive five-year, $175 million deal. The 31-year-old has been one of the premier third basemen in baseball since his debut in 2016. He’s got a career .846 OPS and has been selected for the all-star team three times; in addition, he’s also a former Gold Glove Award winner in the field. The two-time World Series Champion decided to opt out of his contract with the Red Sox this offseason with the hopes of getting a bigger deal. This came after he posted an .821 OPS with a 3.5 bWAR in 114 games in his lone season in Boston. Bregman is expected to be a staple at the top of Chicago’s order in his first season in Chicago.
The main reason the Cubs had the payroll funds available to sign Bregman this offseason was that they were unable to bring back one of their star outfielders from last season's squad, Kyle Tucker. The 29-year-old ended up signing one of the biggest contracts of the free agent cycle with the Dodgers. It was a four-year, $240 million deal. The Cubs only had him for one season after acquiring him from Houston last offseason. The four-time all-star had a nice year in his lone season in a Cubs uniform. He played in 136 games and had a slash line of .266/.377/.464 with a 143 OPS+. Tucker’s 4.6 bWAR ranked third on the team. His presence will surely be missed, but the Cubs were clearly determined to find an adequate replacement this offseason in the middle of their lineup with the addition of Alex Bregman.
Star Players up the Middle
In order for Chicago’s lineup to perform at the same level it did last season, they’ll need similarly good seasons from their star players up the middle. Second baseman Nico Hoerner and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong are both coming off the best seasons of their Major League careers. Hoerner is more known as a defensive player, but he was probably the best contact hitter in the Cubs' lineup last season. The 29-year-old led the team in batting average amongst qualifiers, with a .297 average. The power isn’t on the same level, though, as he slugged just .394 on the season. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner is still an ideal leadoff hitter for Chicago. That's where he’ll likely hit for most of the season. 24-year-old centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong was one of baseball’s biggest breakout stars last year in his sophomore campaign. He was one of just seven players to have a 30/30 season. The former top prospect also earned his first all-star nod and even finished ninth in NL MVP voting. The young phenom should be another key contributor at the top of Chicago’s lineup in 2026.
The Next Wave of Cubs Talent
One reason for optimism around the Cubs' lineup possibly being even better next season is the development of two of their former top prospects. One of them is 24-year-old third baseman Matt Shaw. The 2023 first-round pick was penciled in as the team's full-time third baseman last season before even making his major league debut. At the plate, there is clearly room for improvement for him; he posted a slightly below-average 98 OPS+ on the season. Which is not a terrible mark for a rookie. His above-average defense was enough that he was able to put up a very solid 3.1 bWAR on the season. This led to the University of Maryland product finishing ninth in NL Rookie of the Year voting. The other top prospect that Cubs fans are hoping will be a key contributor next season is young catcher Moises Ballesteros. The 22-year-old was very impressive at the dish in his brief major league stint last year. He put up an .868 OPS, although it was just a 20-game sample size. The Venezuelan native was also very good in Triple-A, which is where he spent most of last season. In 114 games with the Iowa Cubs, he hit .316 and had an .858 OPS, some of the best contact numbers at the Triple-A level. Ballesteros is projected to be in the Cubs' Opening Day lineup as the DH with veteran Carson Kelly serving as the team's primary backstop.
Proven Players in Key Spots
There are a handful of other veterans from last year’s lineup that will again play an important role in 2026. 32-year-old shortstop Dansby Swanson is another part of what will be arguably one of the best up-the-middle defensive groups in the game next season. The 10-year MLB veteran is yet another player in this Cubs position player group who was an above-average defender in 2025. The Vanderbilt product was worth plus four outs above average last season and is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner. His bat has been slightly above average in recent seasons, and he should be a very solid eighth or ninth hitter in the Cubs' order. 28-year-old first baseman Michael Busch rounds out the Cubs' regular infield group headed into next season. He is another player on this team who is coming off a career-best season. The Minnesota native quietly put together some outstanding power numbers, hitting 34 home runs on the year. He also slugged .523, which ranked 13th amongst qualified major league hitters.
In the outfield department, along with the aforementioned Pete Crow-Armstrong, 31-year-old Ian Happ returns for his ninth season in a Cubs uniform, making him the team’s longest-tenured player. The former first-round selection has always been a very reliable player for the Cubs over his Major League career. The veteran has a career .790 OPS, and he’s traditionally been a slightly above-average defender. The Cubs will also have Seiya Suzuki back in the fold. Unfortunately, not at the beginning of the season, though, due to a sprained knee that he suffered in the World Baseball Classic playing for Team Japan. The 31-year-old was the primary cleanup hitter in Chicago’s lineup last season. He was one of just fourteen players to record over 100 RBIs on the season. Once he’s back on the field, which shouldn’t be too long from now, expect to see him in the middle of the Cubs order yet again.
Lineup Stability and Key Questions
The main concern about whether Chicago’s lineup can excel as much as it did last season is whether its core players can replicate the same success they had. For instance, is Michael Busch going to be able to show the same power he had last season? Or is Nico Hoerner going to be able to bat right around .300 again? The Cubs' lineup was also fortunate enough to have a minimal number of injuries last season. This is a luxury that most teams aren’t able to enjoy. All but one player from the Cubs' Opening Day lineup played in at least 120 games. The exception being Miguel Amaya, who was effectively replaced by Carson Kelly at the catcher position last season. On the optimistic side, it’s hard to find a position player group that has offensive firepower while also featuring so many excellent defensive players. With that said, the Cubs’ position players appear likely to be one of the strongest groups in the National League heading into the 2026 season.
