The Chicago Cubs opened their final series before the All-Star break against the Cincinnati Reds on July 10 at Great American Ball Park, with Seiya Suzuki back in the lineup and batting fourth. For a club trying to hold its place near the top of the NL Central, it was a timely boost after Suzuki left the previous night’s game early because of cramps.
The decision also reflected how important Suzuki has been to this stretch. In the two games before July 10, he hit two home runs and drove in five runs, giving the Cubs extra punch as they came in fighting for second place in the NL Central. With the Reds presenting a struggling division opponent and a pitching staff that has allowed the sixth-most homers this season, Chicago had a clear chance to keep momentum heading into the break.
Why Suzuki mattered in the Cubs lineup
Suzuki’s return was the main lineup note, but it was not a surprise. The Cubs had already used the batting order from their series finale in Baltimore as the basis for the next game, and Suzuki’s recent production made him difficult to leave out. Two hits and two home runs across four games is the sort of output that can change the shape of a lineup, especially in a series that matters for position rather than simply one night’s result.
That is why batting him fourth made sense. Chicago were not just hoping for a short-term spark; they were looking for a reliable middle-order presence who could punish mistakes and support the rest of the order around him.
A test for the Reds, and a chance for the Cubs
The Reds entered as a division rival the Cubs needed to handle, particularly with the All-Star break coming immediately after this series. Great American Ball Park has already framed plenty of momentum swings in the NL Central, and this matchup had the feel of a game that could shape how both clubs are viewed going into the pause.
Ian Happ’s return to a college-baseball connection with the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati added a separate talking point on the day, but the headline issue remained straightforward: whether the Cubs could start the series with authority. If Suzuki stayed fit and continued his recent run, Chicago’s lineup looked capable of doing exactly that.
