Michael

Busch

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.

Neither of Busch’s first two hits were well struck, but the third was a sharp opposite-field liner. With the injured Tyler Austin no longer a threat, Busch figures to start against most lefties, adding to his fantasy value even if he’s dropped from the leadoff spot in those situations.

Counsell told reporters that Busch has “earned the right” to get a chance to face southpaws. While it’s possible the 28-year-old won’t handle them well, it does give him a chance to add more counting stats, which is always nice. Busch hit 34 homers with an .866 OPS in 2025, and similiar — if not better — production is feasible for the former first-round pick this summer.

The Cubs have made only two lineup changes all series, dropping Ian Happ from third to fifth after Game 1 and initially using Justin Turner over Michael Busch against a left-handed opener in Game 3. Tonight’s lineup: Busch (1B), Nico Hoerner (2B), Kyle Tucker (DH), Seiya Suzuki (RF), Happ (LF), Carson Kelly (C), Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF), Dansby Swanson (SS) and Matt Shaw (3B).