Michael

Busch

Remember when Busch hit .193 with two home runs in 30 games in March and April? Since May 1st, Busch is hitting .279/.424/.467 with seven home runs, 18 runs scored, 33 RBI, and two steals in 48 games. He should be treated as the top 10 starting first baseman he was drafted to be before the season began.

The Giants brought in Erik Miller just to face Busch in the fifth, and the left-handed hitter responded with his second homer in 91 plate appearances against a southpaw this season. It was also the first homer Miller has ever allowed to a left-handed batter in the majors; they had hit .200/.318/.242 against him in 196 plate appearances.

Busch crushed a 424-foot shot off Tomoyuki Sugano in the sixth inning, but it came with the Cubs trailing 7-1. He’s now homered seven times in 2026, while the solo roundtripper gives him 37 RBI in 67 games. It’s the first homer of the month of June for Busch, but he has picked up hits in six of his seven contests in the month. Overall the production has been disappointing, but there’s reason for optimism over the final 90-plus games of the campaign.

Crow-Armstrong finds himself back atop Chicago’s lineup with manager Craig Counsell shaking things up. The 24-year-old power/speed combo fantasy threat had been scuffling at the dish this month prior to slugging a two-run homer and walking twice during Friday’s series opener at Wrigley Field. Nico Hoerner moves to the cleanup spot with Alex Bregman and Michael Bush hitting behind Crow-Armstrong. It’s a significant development that fantasy managers should monitor moving forward.

Busch’s homer was a two-run blast off Erick Fedde in the first. The lefty first baseman has started all but two games for the Cubs this year, fully shedding last season’s platoon role. Busch hit second in all three contests versus the crosstown White Sox this weekend. However, the long ball was just his fourth of the season as he’s well off pace to match the 34 he connected for a season ago.

Busch homered to tie things up in the eighth and then delivered a game-winning single in the 10th. It elevates his line to .229/.331/.366 in 131 at-bats. Busch’s bat speed and exit velocity numbers have plummeted this year, and the Cubs might be better off turning him back into a platoon guy at some point. The production, though, has gotten better so far this month, and it seems worth sticking with him in shallow leagues.

Busch had a big day at the plate on Sunday, starting with a double and a run scored in the second inning. After drawing a walk in the third, he drove in three runs with a bases-loaded triple in the fifth. Busch would drive in a fourth run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh. The 28-year-old first baseman is hitting .218/.317/.339 with two homers, 15 runs scored, and 17 RBI across 145 plate appearances.

Busch opened scoring with a two-run single with the bases loaded to make it 2-0, then added a hard-hit double later on. Busch has been struggling this year, so this game at least gets him over the Mendoza line at .203/.301/.297. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should stick with him for now, but his expected batting average of .204 is rough — he’s simply not barreling the ball enough yet.

Busch takes a seat for the second straight contest with Philadelphia ace Cristopher Sánchez toeing the rubber during Monday’s series opener. The 28-year-old first baseman has gotten off to an abysmal start, hitting .135 (7-for-52) with zero homers and three RBI through 15 games. Carson Kelly takes over at first base to open the game. It’s not quite time to panic, but Busch could be limited to facing righties almost exclusively until he gets back on track.

Busch has been slumping badly at the dish, slashing a woeful .118/.220/.157 with zero homers, two RBI and a 12/7 K/BB ratio through his first 59 plate appearances. Hopefully a day off to clear his head will do him some good. Matt Shaw will start in his place at first base and will bat ninth for the Cubs against Brayan Bello and the Red Sox on Sunday.