Morel went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Morel has been scuffling a bit lately, as he's batting just .176 over his last 10 games with no home runs, and he has just three long balls overall this season across 25 contests. Still, the 24-year-old is a legitimate power threat, and even though he hasn't really gotten going in that department yet, he can heat up in a hurry and hit homers in bunches.

Morel is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

The Cubs will hand Morel his first day off of the season while he's fallen into a slump at the dish of late; he's gone 4-for-45 (.089 average) and is getting on base at a .222 clip over his last 13 games. Morel still looks to be entrenched in an everyday role at third base, but Nick Madrigal will occupy the hot corner Thursday.

Morel went 2-for-4 with a grand slam during Tuesday's 5-1 win over San Diego.

EDGE Analysis

Morel launched his third homer of 2024 on Tuesday, tagging reliever Stephen Kolek for the grand slam on Kolek's first pitch out of the bullpen. The long ball was Morel's first grand slam of his career. He's now logged a hit in 10 of his 11 games this season and is slashing .326/.370/.605 with an excellent 10.9 percent strikeout rate across 46 plate appearances.

Morel went 1-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and two runs scored in Tuesday's 12-2 win over the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

Morel went deep in the third inning as the Cubs piled on in the easy win. The 24-year-old now has two long balls across five games to go along with a robust 1.171 OPS. Whether he's playing at third base or serving as the DH, Morel will be in the lineup most days due to his powerful bat, and fantasy managers should reap the rewards.

Morel went 2-for-3 with a run scored during Monday's 5-0 victory over the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

Despite the modest stat line, Morel's sixth-inning single with two-men on was the impetus for the Cubs' victory as a misplay by left-fielder Nolan Jones saw the ball roll all the way to the wall and allowed both runners to score. Jones then added a throwing error on the same play that allowed Morel to complete the little-league home run. Unfortunately, Morel did not get credited with an RBI on the play but it's been a solid start to the season for the Cubs' third-baseman. Through four games he's collected seven hits in 17 at-bats with a homer, three RBI and four runs scored.

Morel went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 9-5 win over the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Morel got the show started for the Cubs, clubbing a three-run homer off of starter Jon Gray in the top of the first inning, giving Chicago an early 3-0 lead. The 24-year-old has opened the season red-hot, going 5-for-14 with a homer, a triple, three RBI and three runs scored.

Morel went 2-for-5 with a triple and a run scored in Thursday's 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Morel had a good game but almost had a great game, as he narrowly missed a grand slam on a long foul ball in the top of the 10th inning with the contest tied 3-3. The 24-year-old batted cleanup and he should have the opportunity to post strong numbers this season from the middle of Chicago's lineup, particularly in the power department.

Morel will serve as the Cubs' designated hitter and cleanup batter in Thursday's season opener versus the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

The Cubs gave Morel plenty of run at third base this spring in hopes that he would capture that job. While he still figures to be used plenty at the hot corner, it displays some lack of trust in Morel's defense on manager Craig Counsell's part that he's not playing the field Opening Day. Fantasy managers mostly care that he's just in the lineup, of course, and that he's hitting cleanup shows faith in his bat.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said in an interview on MLB Network Radio on Monday that while he's been pleased with Morel's defensive work, the third base job is "not going to be solved in spring training."

EDGE Analysis

Morel is going to get an extended look at the hot corner and may very well be the long-term answer there, but Counsell doesn't plan to make that decision based on what happens in spring training. Worth noting is that Morel's chief competitors at the hot corner, Nick Madrigal (leg) and Patrick Wisdom (quad), are both banged up. Ultimately, Morel figures to garner plenty of at-bats, whether that's mostly at third base, designated hitter or bouncing around to many positions.

Morel went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Morel started at third base, which is where he's slated to see most of his playing time, at least in the early going. The 24-year-old got off to a flying start in the power department last season and now has his spring campaign started on the right foot as well. If Morel sees regular time at the hot corner and can build on the positives from his 2023 campaign, a big 2024 could be in store.