When the Chicago Cubs traded for outfielder Dexter Fowler, they thought they had the leadoff man that they’ve been looking for. He began the season hot, but he’s cooled off lately and manager Joe Maddon made the move taking him out of the leadoff spot for the team’s Monday night game against the rival St. Louis Cardinals.

Veteran outfielder Chris Coghlan replaced him while Fowler was moved to the No. 7 hole. For now, this is the way things should stay. Maddon doesn’t have to stay loyal to Coghlan as the leadoff man, especially against left-handers, but he should keep Fowler from the top spot until he puts things back together.

Going into the game against the Cardinals, Fowler was all the way down to a .228 batting average with a .305 on-base percentage. That’s not going to cut it out of the lead-off spot. Fowler has never been great at getting on base overall, but when leading off innings, he had a .393 batting average last season. The Cubs just haven’t seen that same production in 2015.

Meanwhile, Coghlan has a .355 on-base percentage, much better for a leadoff man. He also seems to be hitting a hot streak while Fowler can’t hit the red side of a barn. Moving Fowler down in the order won’t just benefit the team by giving them a more reliable lead-off hitter, it will also benefit Fowler himself.

Hitting in the No. 7 spot in the order, Fowler figures to see more fastballs and get more pitches to hit. He doesn’t have much protection behind him (since the Cubs bat the pitcher eighth), but he still won’t see the plethora of pitches he sees out of the leadoff spot.

By moving Fowler down in the order, the Cubs will get more effective production out of the leadoff spot and they can also get their centerfielder back on track. If and when that happens, they can slide him back into the leadoff spot and go back to business as usual.