Cubs rookie Moises Ballesteros learning he'll have to 'adjust back' against major-league pitching

CLEVELAND — Building a major-league career is about surviving and adapting.

No major-leaguer goes through his entire career without enduring slumps and having to adjust his game because of age. But the jump from his rookie season to his second is the most jarring.

‘‘My second year [in 2018] was way harder than the first year,’’ Cubs left fielder Ian Happ said. ‘‘Guys do make adjustments [against you] throughout the first season, but then when they have a whole year of data and an offseason to prepare, it’s tough.

‘‘You have to find a way to adjust back and just keep tweaking.’’

Happ’s knowledge is instructive for rookie Moises Ballesteros, who hasn’t had the most productive start after being named the Cubs’ primary designated hitter. He’s batting .158 with three hits in seven games.

Ballesteros, 22, is among the players the Cubs are counting on to help replace outfielder Kyle Tucker’s production after he signed with the Dodgers during the offseason. Ballesteros was called up last September in part because of Tucker’s injuries, and he responded by batting .298 with an .868 OPS.

‘‘[Playing DH] is definitely a new role for me,’’ Ballesteros said. ‘‘But I feel like I’m taking it well.’’

Though he is a catcher by trade, Ballesteros’ best trait is his bat. It’s his advanced skills at the plate that earned him a spot on the Cubs’ playoff roster last season.

He has a mature approach and a sweet swing that instills belief he’ll continue to improve during the course of a major-league season. He has hit at every level in the minors and had nothing left to prove at Triple-A Iowa.

Though the sample size this season is small, Ballesteros said pitchers are throwing him more breaking balls (38.6%) than they did last season (18.9%). He also said that teams are throwing him more curveballs and fastballs at the top of the zone and that he needs to show more restraint in laying off those pitches.

To this point, however, Ballesteros has shown he’s adept at adjusting to however pitchers try to attack him.

Suzuki’s impending return

Right fielder Seiya Suzuki took a significant step in his return from a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that has forced him to start the season on the injured list. He played five innings Friday for Double-A Knoxville, going 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Suzuki suffered the injury while playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He began ramping up for a return Monday and went through sliding and outfield drills to test his movement Tuesday.

As long as the pain doesn’t return, Suzuki might be nearing a return to the lineup.

Postponed

The Cubs-Guardians game Saturday was postponed because of threatening weather. The teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 12:10 p.m. Sunday.

Right-hander Edward Cabrera will start for the Cubs in Game 1 and left-hander Shota Imanaga in Game 2.