Busch is not in Saturday's lineup against the Phillies.
The Cubs haven't faced many lefties this year, but Busch has yet to make a start against a same-handed pitcher. Justin Turner will start at first base against southpaw Jesus Luzardo.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Goes deep in win
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Busch went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Diamondbacks.
Busch singled in a run in the bottom of the first inning, then added a solo home run an inning later, giving him five long balls for the season. The infielder has an impressive .316/.381/.618 slash line through 22 games, and while he often sits against southpaws, Busch has been a force against righties. He currently has a 1.020 OPS against opposite-handed pitching this year, as well as all of his home runs and RBI.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Explosive against former club
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Busch went 4-for-6 with a home run, two doubles, four total runs and three total RBI in a 16-0 rout of the Dodgers on Saturday.
As impressive as Busch's stat line was, it could have been even bigger had Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages not robbed him of what looked to be a grand slam in the third inning. Even with that bad luck, Busch put up an impressive display against the team that selected him in the first round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, collecting three extra-base hits, including his second long ball of the campaign. Busch's big performance lifted his season slash line to .300/.386/.540, and he's driven in nine runs through 16 games.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Sitting versus lefty
Rotowire
Busch is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers.
Southpaw Patrick Corbin will take the mound Tuesday for Texas, so Busch will head to the bench after going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's series opener. Justin Turner will start at first base and bat cleanup in his place.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Taking seat versus southpaw
Rotowire
Busch is out of the lineup for Wednesday contest against the Athletics.
Southpaw Jeffrey Springs is on the bump for the Athletics, so the left-handed-hitting Busch will begin the series finale on the bench. Justin Turner will start at first base and bat cleanup for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Plates four in rout
Rotowire
Busch went 3-for-6 with a home run, two total runs and four total RBI against the Athletics in an 18-3 win Monday.
Busch was one of four Chicago players with three or more hits in the offensive onslaught. He hit the first homer of the game for Chicago, knocking a two-run shot to right-center field in the first inning. The long ball was the first extra-base hit of the season for Busch, who had gone just 4-for-18 at the plate prior to Monday's big performance.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Sitting against southpaw
Rotowire
Busch is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
The lefty-hitting Busch will get his first game off of the season while the Diamondbacks send a southpaw (Eduardo Rodriguez) to the hill for a day game after a night game. Justin Turner will fill in for Busch at first base.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Off to fast start
Rotowire
Busch went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI in Saturday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.
Busch is now 4-for-6 overall through two spring training appearances with three RBI. The 27-year-old is entrenched as Chicago's top option at first base, though the recent addition of Justin Turner gives the Cubs a veteran alternative. The two could work in a platoon to start the year with the lefty-hitting Busch serving on the strong side, but a prolonged slump by either player could swing playing time more in the opposite direction.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Not an option at third base
Rotowire
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer indicated Tuesday that Busch is not under consideration to play third base and will instead remain focused on first base, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The Cubs have an opening at the hot corner following the trade of Isaac Paredes and Busch has some experience at third base. However, the team views Busch as a potential Gold Glove-caliber first baseman and wants him to remain there. Top prospect Matt Shaw looks to be the current favorite to start at third base.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Remaining out Wednesday
Rotowire
Busch (triceps) isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Phillies.
Busch departed Tuesday's game early after getting hit in the arm by a pitch, and he'll now take a day off to recover during Wednesday's series finale. His absence will put Cody Bellinger at first base, opening up right field for Kevin Alcantara to make his MLB debut while batting ninth.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Homers in three-hit effort
Rotowire
Busch went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Rockies.
Busch went deep with two runners on in the eighth inning, giving him 18 home runs and 59 RBI for the season. The 26-year-old is enjoying his first year in Chicago, as he's gotten a chance to play regularly at first base and is sporting a respectable .778 OPS across 138 games. With this being his first real taste of extended MLB action, Busch could be poised for a step forward in 2025 now that he has more experience under his belt.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Taking seat Sunday
Rotowire
Busch is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.
Busch went 1-for-17 while starting the past seven games but will sit Sunday against New York righty Gerrit Cole. Cody Bellinger will shift to first base while Mike Tauchman receives a start in right field.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Reaches four times in romp
Rotowire
Busch went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double, two RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 14-2 win over the Marlins.
Busch chipped in three of his team's 17 total hits as the offense carried the Cubs to victory. The young first baseman continues to have a productive first season in Chicago, as he's batting .258 with a .795 OPS across 123 games. With the Cubs giving Pete Crow-Armstrong an extended look in center field, Cody Bellinger has had to play elsewhere, including in right and serving as the DH, as he did Saturday. Bellinger is also an option to play at first when he's not in center, but so far, the Cubs have opted to keep Busch in the lineup as often as possible except against lefty starters.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Getting night off
Rotowire
Busch is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.
Busch had started the Cubs' first seven games of August -- going 7-for-24 with three homers -- but will get some rest Friday. In his place, Patrick Wisdom will play first base and bat second.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Homers in win Wednesday
Rotowire
Busch went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Twins.
After going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in Monday's game against his hometown team, Busch ended the series on a high note. The first baseman clobbered his 16th home run of the season and fourth in his last 10 games. If he can stay healthy, Busch seems primed to reach the 20-homer plateau for the first time in his young career in what's been a nice debut campaign with the Cubs.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Homers again in loss
Rotowire
Busch went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Busch hit a two-run homer in the first inning and singled in the fifth. He has gone just 6-for-33 in his past 10 games, but three of those hits have left the park. On the season, the first baseman is hitting .260 with 15 home runs, 43 RBI and 52 runs scored across 392 plate appearances.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Taking seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Busch is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.
Busch will be joined on the bench by fellow left-handed hitter Mike Tauchman while the Reds send southpaw Nick Lodolo to the hill. Patrick Wisdom will cover first base in Busch's stead.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Blasts 13th home run
Rotowire
Busch went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk in Monday's 7-1 loss to the Reds.
Busch provided the only offense for the Cubs on Monday with a solo home run off Buck Farmer in the ninth inning. Busch's 13 homers are the second most by a rookie in MLB this season, trailing Colton Cowser (15). Busch continues his strong rookie campaign with a solid month of July in which he's hitting .273 with a .780 OPS.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Provides offense Monday
Rotowire
Busch went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Monday's 7-1 loss to the Reds.
Busch connected for his 13th home run of the season in the ninth inning, giving the Cubs a small bit of positivity in a lopsided loss. The 26-year-old has been a positive all year with an .804 OPS across 101 games. There were some questions in the offseason about Busch's potential role with the Cubs, but he's seized a regular job at first base with his solid play and should stick there the rest of the way.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Records two hits off bench
Rotowire
Busch went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Royals.
Busch entered as a pinch-hitter for Christopher Morel in the fourth inning, with the latter getting traded to the Rays mid-game as part of the package for Isaac Paredes. Busch then proceeded to snap out of an 0-for-14 slump with the multi-hit afternoon. Paredes figures to replace Morel at third for the Cubs, so Busch should stick as the team's primary first baseman following his interrupted day of rest Sunday.
