Ian Happ hit his way into the leadoff spot in August and became a surprise part of the National League MVP conversation at that point in the baseball calendar. On Thursday, the center fielder was given a chance to rest a sore ankle and a laboring swing.

It would have been asking a lot to expect Happ to maintain MVP-caliber production for the entire campaign, and his struggles over the past few weeks have been part of the Cubs' team-wide offensive woes. Add Happ to the list of Chicago bats trying to get right with October approaching fast.

"Happer, I think it's timing," Cubs manager David Ross said. "He's got two swings that he's got to maintain throughout a season, which is difficult. Maybe just a little bit underneath the baseball, and that's a timing thing, usually."

Ross noted that Happ tweaked an ankle during Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Pirates. The manager did not want to "push him" with only three games left in the regular season.

The switch-hitting Happ was sporting a .317/.423/.690 slash line after a two-homer performance in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Sept. 5 against the Cardinals. In the 17 games since that point, the center fielder has hit .138/.233/.169 with no home runs, 26 strikeouts and eight walks.

Prior to September, Happ hit .317 (.635 SLG) against fastballs and .276 (.828 SLG) against breaking balls (all types), per Statcast. This month, he was batting .275 (.574 SLG) off fastballs and .207 (.241 SLG) off breaking balls, entering Thursday's game in Pittsburgh.

"I don't know if that's just his legs maybe not being under him, maybe tired," Ross said. "Maybe it's just, again, timing. Fouling off balls. Really trying to get on top of that four-seamer. I think, in general, where we can improve, as I think and look back, is just commanding the strike zone."

Worth noting
• With both Happ and Kris Bryant (right oblique) out on Thursday, Ross slotted Jason Heyward into the No. 3 spot of the lineup for the first time this season. Heyward has spent the bulk of his time (104 plate appearances) in the sixth spot, where he has posted a .970 OPS and 159 wRC+ this year.

"He's been one of our best at-bats all year," Ross said of Heyward. "I've tried not to mess with that. He's been comfortable where he's at, but with Happer out and K.B. out, it just made a lot of sense to move him up higher to me."

• While righty Yu Darvish is scheduled to start on Friday against the White Sox, Ross noted that Jon Lester was the likely starter for Saturday and Sunday was more "fluid" right now. Currently, lefty José Quintana is the tentative probable pitcher for Sunday's regular-season finale.

• Ross noted that there was nothing new to report on Thursday morning in regards to Bryant, who continues to receive treatment for his right oblique issue. It remains to be determined whether Bryant will be available for this weekend's series against the White Sox.

Quotable
"I continue to push the professional at-bats and trying to win each pitch and focus on what you can control. These guys, they've hit a lot of balls hard. We can't control where they go. The guys are putting in the work and the hitting coaches are grinding with them and putting in all the work. Hopefully, this thing starts to turn the other way for us soon." -- Ross