Rafael Ortega Stats

Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega will take a seat on Friday against the San Francisco Giants and left-hander Carlos Rodon. It will be the third straight game that Ortega has started on the bench. He's hit .191 (4-for-21) with four RBI and nine strikeouts in eight games over the last two weeks and only has four hits in 19 at-bats (.211) against southpaws in 22 plate appearances in 2022. In his place, Christopher Morel will start in left field and bat ninth on Friday against Rodon. The 23-year-old rookie is hitting .248/.312/.443 on the season with 13 home runs, 38 RBI, 49 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 323 at-bats, but he'll have low upside in DFS in the nine-hole.

24 days ago

Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega isn't in the starting lineup for Tuesday's matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates and left-handed starter Jose Quintana. Ortega had a breakout year in 2021 for the Cubs, hitting .291 with a .360 on-base percentage, 11 home runs, and 12 stolen bases in 330 plate appearances. So far this season, he's batting .167 with a .500 on-base percentage and a pair of runs scored in 10 plate appearances. The Cubs will go with Ian Happ, Michael Hermosillo, and Seiya Suzuki from left to right in the outfield in a good matchup against Quintana. The veteran pitched to a 6.43 REA and a 4.66 FIP in 63 innings last season and allowed 15 hits, 11 earned runs, four home runs, and three walks in nine innings during Spring Training with Pittsburgh.

5 months ago

Chicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega is hitting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter on Opening Day on Thursday against Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes. Jason Heyward is starting in center field and batting seventh. Ortega has a big challenge ahead of him against last year's National League Cy Young winner, making him tough to get behind as a cheap DFS option. The 30-year-old hit an impressive .291/.360/.463 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 44 runs scored and 12 stolen bases in 330 plate appearances over 103 games in his first year with the Cubs in 2021, and he could be a fixture atop the Cubs lineup against right-handers in 2022.

5 months ago