Latest news with #MichaelBusch
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs manager finally makes key change to lineup, moves up red-hot first baseman
The Chicago Cubs have made a lineup change ahead of their rubber match with the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Manager Craig Counsell has moved first baseman Michael Busch up to the five-spot in the batting order and moved shortstop Dansby Swanson to the six-spot. Advertisement This move may not seem like a big deal on the surface, but it may create more runs for the Cubs. Swanson has been a great hitter with nobody on base, slashing .295/.333/.512 with 12 of his 15 home runs. But with runners on, he is slashing just .188/.253/.308 and with runners in scoring position an even worse .143/.200/.214. A change needed to be made, especially with Busch being the hottest hitter on the planet right now. Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Busch, 27, has been one of the best hitters on the Cubs after a solid first season with the team. He hit 21 home runs with 65 RBI and slashed .248/.335/.440 in 152 games. Advertisement This season, Busch has 18 home runs with 56 RBI while slashing .293/.377/.562 in 83 games. He hit three of Chicago's historic eight home runs on Friday and ended the day 4-for-4 with five RBI. Busch has excelled with runners on, slashing .291/.364/.591 with seven home runs and 45 RBI. He's even better with runners in scoring position, slashing .365/.466/.608. Busch's 162 wRC+ is fifth in Major League Baseball and his .562 slugging percentage is sixth in MLB. The Cubs' dynamic offense that is already second in runs scored (481) may have just gotten stronger with one small change. More MLB: Former Cubs top prospect could seal the deal for NL Central rival pitcher
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs Set Franchise Record With Eight Home Runs in One Game, Tie MLB 4th of July Home Run Record
Cubs Set Franchise Record With Eight Home Runs in One Game, Tie MLB 4th of July Home Run Record originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Cubs provided the fireworks at Wrigley Field during the 4th of July, as the team clobbered the St. Louis Cardinals in a dominant 11-3 win. Advertisement But what made it such a special evening was the feat the Cubs pulled off in their blowout win. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cubs made both franchise history and MLB history against the Cardinals. For their franchise history, this game from the Cubs was the first time in team history that they had hit eight home runs in a single game. The MLB history they set as tying the 1977 Boston Red Sox for most home runs hit on July 4th. Both are incredible accomplishments, with the franchise record being the more noteworthy of the two. With such a dominant showing, the players involved also had remarkable days. Advertisement Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a pair of home runs as well, bringing him up to 23 home runs in his breakout season. Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, and Carson Kelly hit one home run each. But, the big day came from Michael Busch, as he hit three home runs, going 4-4, and bringing his season total up to 17 home runs. His third home run was the record-setting one, as he went back-to-back with Swanson in the seventh. In the first inning, the Cubs hit two home runs. During the second inning, the Cubs hit two more home runs. The third inning saw the Cubs hit two more home runs. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Their early onslaught caused Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas to tie the MLB record for home runs allowed in a single outing with six. The final two home runs were hit against relief pitching, so Mikolas was spared from unfortunate immortality. Advertisement In what's been a remarkable offensive season from the Cubs, this clubbing of the Cardinals was an incredible feat. Eight home runs in one game, including three from one player, is incredibly rare. Across MLB history, teams have hit at least eight home runs in a game 23 times. The 1999 Cincinnati Reds and the 2025 New York Yankees hit nine in a single game. The MLB record belongs to the 1987 Toronto Blue Jays, with ten in a single game. While not the MLB record, this Cubs team did set a franchise record, and tied the most home runs hit on July 4th. Cubs fans got an early fireworks display at Wrigley, further cementing this Cubs offense as one of the best in club history. Related: Yankees Sign Recent Cubs Infielder Amid Brutal Stretch Related: Cubs' Kyle Tucker Gets $500 Million Contract Prediction After Dodgers News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Cubs' struggles against left-handed starters puts focus on another area of need
CHICAGO — Entering play on Saturday, the Chicago Cubs had faced 19 left-handed starters and Michael Busch had started in just six of those games. Craig Counsell decided to give him his seventh Saturday afternoon. 'Sometimes you gotta change it up,' Counsell said. 'You gotta do something different. I thought today was a day with the way Michael has been swinging the bat, so gotta do something different.' Advertisement Busch has been on a tear of late and went 4-for-4 with three home runs on Friday. He quickly made Counsell look good as he homered off St. Louis Cardinals lefty starter Matthew Liberatore in his first at-bat, then doubled in his second. On the season, Busch has a 162 wRC+, fifth in MLB. Busch, always understated, didn't take too much away from earning the start on Saturday. 'I've felt very comfortable against lefties,' Busch said. 'We just have a group that no matter who's pitching, no matter who's in the lineup, whoever is in there, try to do your best.' The Cubs scored two runs in five innings against Liberatore, then another run off lefty reliever Steven Matz and an unearned run against JoJo Romero. Clearly, the Cardinals' plan was to throw lefties at the group and hope they could contain a potent offense. Despite a solid effort against those lefties, the Cubs fell short on this day, losing 8-6 after Brad Keller had a rare poor outing, blowing a two-run lead in the eighth. Keller and the relievers aren't an issue for this team, though. Especially on a day when Counsell went with a bullpen game with Jameson Taillon down for at least a month. The Cubs have been up front with their desire to add starting pitching. They will also continue to build depth in the bullpen. But another area they'll monitor for upgrades is their bench. They need a right-handed hitter, or even better, a player with defensive versatility who can also hit lefties. For the first month of the season, the Cubs could do no wrong against left-handed pitching. By wRC+, no team has put together a better month against lefties than the Cubs' 145 mark in March and April. But since that point, they've posted a 91 wRC+, a middling mark that has them 16th in baseball during that span. 'Certainly it's a trend we've talked about and noticed,' team president Jed Hoyer said. 'We have been more effective against right-handed starters than left-handed starters. You need to be able to feel good in any kind of game and situation. Certainly, we're a little bit imbalanced in that regard right now. Some of that is who we've faced.' Advertisement Over the last month-plus, the Cubs have faced some of the best lefties in baseball. MacKenzie Gore, Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez. Twice they've faced Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Jesús Luzardo and Liberatore. Is this an actual issue or have the Cubs just been facing a lot of great lefties lately? 'It's both of those things,' Counsell said. 'We have faced some very good left-handed pitching lately and we haven't swung the bats as well against left-handed pitching.' In March and April, Carson Kelly had a 164 wRC+ against lefties and Ian Happ was at 161. Since then, Kelly has posted an 82 wRC+ against lefties and Happ has delivered a rough 49 mark. Since being recalled in the middle of May, Matt Shaw has a 26 wRC+ against lefties. 'I know we want to be the best at everything,' Counsell said. 'We've just been really good against right-handed pitching because we have a couple hitters in Pete (Crow-Armstrong) and Michael Busch, two very good left-handed hitters, and they're doing what you'd expect them to do.' Against righties (entering Saturday), Bush has a 180 wRC+ and Crow-Armstrong is at 167, the top two on the team. But against lefties. Busch is at 35 and Crow-Armstrong 70. Busch had a nice day Saturday, but Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-4 with a walk, facing lefties in each plate appearance. Those are tough matchups for Crow-Armstrong and Busch. What the Cubs need is more of what Kelly has looked like of late. The Cubs' primary catcher went 2-for-5 with a double and a homer, both hits off righties, and has looked much closer to the April version. Justin Turner, on the team largely to hit lefties, had a 93 wRC+ against them before going 0-for-1 against a lefty Saturday. The team also needs Dansby Swanson to be more consistent. Swanson is hitting lefties, but primarily when the bases are empty. In those situations against lefties, he has a 193 wRC+. When there are runners on base, it's 52. In the first inning Saturday, Swanson came up with the bases loaded and one out and struck out against Liberatore. Advertisement 'I think that's very reasonable to expect to improve,' Counsell said. 'You need your right-handers. That's the name of the game there.' There's no doubt that adding a right-handed hitter with some versatility will be on the docket for Hoyer and company. With a largely set lineup, either improving the bench or finding an upgrade at third while moving Shaw to a bench role are the most likely avenues. It's not the number one priority, but in a season where the Cubs want to cover any weaknesses and improve their chances in October, this is becoming a clear area of need. (Top photo of Dansby Swanson: Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images)
CBS News
a day ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Pozo's pinch-hit homer in the 8th powers Cardinals past Cubs, Busch 8-6
Yohel Pozo pinch-hit a three-run homer to cap St. Louis' five-run eight-inning rally, and the Cardinals came back to top the Chicago Cubs 8-6 on Saturday, ending a four-game slide. Pozo's drive off Brad Keller reached Waveland Avenue to put St. Louis ahead 8-5. Alec Burleson, who finished with three hits, cracked a solo shot to start the rally. Nolan Gorman also went deep for the Cardinals, who rebounded after Michael Busch and Carson Kelly homered for the second straight day to help Chicago build a two-run lead after seven. Thomas Saggese, a late replacement for Nolan Arenado at third, had two hits and two RBIs. Busch lined his 18th home run in his first at-bat, then doubled and singled. He smacked three of Chicago's franchise-record eight home runs an 11-3 rout of the Cardinals on Friday. Busch ran his streak of consecutive hits to seven Saturday before striking out in the seventh. Kelly also doubled and scored two runs for the NL Central leaders. Steven Matz (5-2), the Cardinals second reliever, got five outs for the win. Ryan Helsley pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 17th save. Keller (3-1) was charged with five runs and the loss. St. Louis starter Matthew Liberatore allowed two runs on four hits in five innings. Drew Pomeranz opened for the Cubs but got just one out and yielded his first two earned runs of the season in his 27th game. Key moment The Cardinals tied at 5 in the eight on Burleson's homer and Gorman's RBI single. Keller then served up Pozo's third homer of the season on full-count slider. Key stat Pomeranz, who has opened three times, saw his ERA go from 0.00 to 0.76. Up next The Cardinals send RHP Erick Fedde (3-8, 4.56 ERA) to the mound on Sunday versus Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (8-3, 2.65) who has a 1.66 ERA over his last seven starts
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Pozo's Pinch-Hit Homer in the 8th Powers Cardinals Past Cubs, 8-6
Yohel Pozo pinch-hit a three-run homer to cap St. Louis' five-run eighth-inning rally, and the Cardinals came back to top the Chicago Cubs 8–6 on Saturday, ending a four-game slide. Pozo's drive off Brad Keller reached Waveland Avenue to put St. Louis ahead 8–5. Alec Burleson, who finished with three hits, cracked a solo shot to start the rally. Nolan Gorman also went deep for the Cardinals, who rebounded after Michael Busch and Carson Kelly homered for the second straight day to help Chicago build a two-run lead after seven. Thomas Saggese, a late replacement for Nolan Arenado at third, had two hits and two RBIs. Busch lined his 18th home run in his first at-bat, then doubled and singled. He smacked three of Chicago's franchise-record eight home runs in an 11–3 rout of the Cardinals on Friday. Busch ran his streak of consecutive hits to seven Saturday before striking out in the seventh. Kelly also doubled and scored two runs for the NL Central leaders. Steven Matz (5–2), the Cardinals' second reliever, got five outs for the win. Ryan Helsley pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 17th save. Keller (3–1) was charged with five runs and the loss. St. Louis starter Matthew Liberatore allowed two runs on four hits in five innings. Drew Pomeranz opened for the Cubs but got just one out and yielded his first two earned runs of the season in his 27th game. Key moment: The Cardinals tied it at 5 in the eighth on Burleson's homer and Gorman's RBI single. Keller then served up Pozo's third homer of the season on a full-count slider. Key stat: Pomeranz, who has opened three times, saw his ERA go from 0.00 to 0.76. Up next: The Cardinals send RHP Erick Fedde (3–8, 4.56 ERA) to the mound on Sunday versus Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (8–3, 2.65), who has a 1.66 ERA over his last seven starts.
