CHICAGO -- Last year, the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo was inserted into the leadoff spot to try to get back on track, and it worked. On Tuesday night against the Rockies, Rizzo, who was batting .149, was batting first for the first time this season.
In 2017, Rizzo was 15-for-50 in the leadoff spot with five home runs, two doubles and 12 RBIs. He belted leadoff homers in four of his seven games from June 13-20, doing so June 13 and 14 vs. the Mets, June 18 against the Pirates, and June 20 against the Padres.
Rizzo reached safely to start the game in his first seven contests as the leadoff man last year, and Elias said he was the only player in the last 60 seasons to do so in each of his first seven career games batting leadoff.