Counsell confirms Dansby Swanson remains out of Cubs’ lineup for second straight game

Chicago manager Craig Counsell said Sunday that Dansby Swanson will not be in the Cubs’ starting lineup for a second straight game, underscoring how the team’s decision is being treated as performance-driven rather than purely day-to-day rest. Swanson’s absence first drew attention Saturday, but his continued role as a non-starter Sunday made it clear the Cubs are intent on addressing issues they believe are affecting the veteran’s readiness.

Swanson, a long-time leader in Chicago’s clubhouse and a central presence in their middle-infield group, is expected to be among the Cubs’ everyday core when he is available. With him sitting again for the series finale against the Giants, the Cubs will continue to run a different look up the middle, adjusting both their defensive alignment and the order they use to set matchups throughout the game.

Counsell’s confirmation matters because it frames the Cubs’ approach as more deliberate. While lineup changes happen frequently in Major League Baseball, a repeated decision like this typically indicates the team is either working on a specific aspect of a player’s performance or trying to establish a consistent rhythm without the veteran in the starting nine. The reporting around the decision also ties it to “struggles,” pointing to form and execution rather than any routine workload management alone.

The Cubs’ situation carries weight in the day-to-day reality of a long season, particularly early enough that managers still rely on stable pieces for continuity. When a player of Swanson’s profile is kept out multiple games in succession, it affects more than one game plan. It influences how the staff evaluates options at the position, how quickly role players can settle into heavier responsibility, and how the manager balances the need to win the specific matchup with the need to get a struggling element back on track.

For fans, the key question is whether Swanson’s absence is temporary and corrective, or whether the Cubs are drifting toward a longer stretch of platoon-style handling. The only certainty in the immediate moment is that he is not starting Sunday against San Francisco. The next marker will be whether Counsell reverses course after the Giants series, returns Swanson to the lineup, or continues to use him sparingly while the Cubs monitor what they can improve from day to day.

The backdrop is that the Cubs are building toward the late-season picture, where roster decisions and consistent production tend to separate contenders from teams waiting on everything to click. Even when a move does not change the standings overnight, it can shift clubhouse expectations, create new confidence for whoever fills the role, and alter how the team deploys its infield depth when it matters most.

Against the Giants, Chicago now must produce without Swanson in the starting lineup, which raises the pressure on the players receiving additional at-bats and reps. After the series finale, the Cubs’ next lineup card will offer the clearest answer to what the team’s decision actually represents, and whether this is a short pause or the start of a more extended adjustment.