Michael Busch’s improved at-bats are giving the Cubs another offensive spark as May approaches.
May is the kind of turning point that often decides whether a season feels like a sprint or a slow grind, and for the Cubs, Michael Busch is starting to look like the hitter they expected.
In recent games. Misryoum reports Busch has been showing more productive at-bats as the calendar shifts. with Friday’s performance offering a clear snapshot of what his best swing can look like.. The first baseman’s approach has leaned into quality contact. including hitting the ball the other way while also generating lift with solid spin.
Insight: When a slump loosens, it’s rarely just about one hit. It’s about timing, confidence, and the ability to make pitchers work, and those are visible in the way a batter controls at-bats.
Friday’s 6-5 win over the D-backs became the stage for that adjustment.. Busch delivered an opposite-field single early to get the Cubs moving. then added extra-base damage later with a double that found a gap in right-center at Wrigley Field.. Those moments mattered not only because of the run production. but because they suggest Busch is getting back to the contact quality that keeps an offense steady.
There are also signs this wasn’t luck.. Misryoum notes that Busch’s recent hard-hit ball profile included multiple balls struck with authority. including shots that cleared key zones and forced the defense to react quickly.. In the middle of it. his 0-for-11 stretch over the prior few games ended. though the broader story is more nuanced than a single rebound.
Insight: Baseball streaks can trick fans into thinking a player has “fixed everything” instantly. The more important signal is whether the contact patterns and plate discipline change in a repeatable way.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell emphasized the idea that Busch is still working toward the kind of run that separates good games from true momentum.. The takeaway from Misryoum’s coverage is straightforward: the Cubs believe Busch’s at-bats are moving in the right direction. even if consistency is still the finishing touch.
What makes this development especially relevant for the Cubs is that their lineup has already been performing at a high level.. Busch regaining his form doesn’t just add an extra bat; it increases lineup depth and helps protect the team’s offensive rhythm against the natural ebbs and flows that come with a long season.
Insight: For teams, summer baseball is about sustaining pressure. When a hitter like Busch starts attacking the ball with intent again, it doesn’t just change what happens at the plate. It changes what pitchers have to think about for the entire game.