Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch knows to be ready to get at least an at-bat every game.
Even on days he isn’t in the lineup because the opposing team starts a left-handed pitcher. Conversely, there is a good chance Busch will get pinch hit for when a lefty reliever has replaced a right-hander, typically in a leverage spot. Both scenarios happened last week in Cleveland.
It’s something the 26-year-old rookie in his first full big-league season is learning to handle. He credited teammate Mike Tauchman for helping him early in the season when they had similar platoon playing time schedules, as it was a role the outfielder had done before during his career. Busch described that part of the process as evolving over the last few months.
“Just always stay ready mentally because that is a mental battle,” Busch told the Tribune. “Just always staying ready as if you were going to have that at-bat. So that little tip that he gave was pretty big. Sometimes you’re curious, you keep wondering, but just staying ready and preparing for the at-bat you’re going to have until you don’t.”
Busch has only started eight games against lefties this season, his last coming July 24 against Milwaukee Brewers opener Rob Zastryzny, and one of only three since the start of June. Of Busch’s 435 plate appearances this year, 62 have come against lefties. Busch has held his own in those few starts, posting a .256/.356/.359 slash line and though his .715 OPS is nearly 100 points less than against righties, Busch’s 103 sOPS+ versus left-handers indicates he is better than the league’s OPS+ in this split.
Manager Craig Counsell has opted to platoon first base when a lefty is on the mound, typically going with slugger Patrick Wisdom, who has made 18 starts versus left-handers. He’s hit two home runs, one triple and two doubles in those games while recording a .208 on-base percentage and .522 OPS, however, his numbers are even better when facing lefties out of the bullpen, often in a pinch-hitting role (.873 OPS off the bench).
“You’re trying to use our personnel the best way we can, I think game state sometimes plays into, like, winning, losing later in the game, what the next choice is and that’s kind of where we’re at right now,” Counsell said. “I do think Michael has the ability to, at some point, just be the first baseman. And as an organization, you’re always trying to develop the everyday players.
“But platoon advantages are also a real thing. It’s a real thing and Patrick has demonstrated over a pretty good chunk of his career that he’s good at this, and that’s why he’s on your team.”
General manager Carter Hawkins has been impressed by Busch’s consistency this year, particularly with his plate discipline, stating, “we couldn’t be more pleased with what he’s done” offensively. The Cubs have found a player who could be a valuable part of their lineup in 2025 and beyond.
“Hopefully we’re always going to try to bring in players or have players around that push the envelope and push our guys,” Counsell said. “Always you’re looking to raise the floor, always on our guys. Development happens just organically too just throughout the season and through playing and through getting out there every single day.
“Whether or not Michael gets 50 more plate appearances versus lefties this year, it’s not going to affect our decision-making about him going forward.”
Cody Bellinger understands the challenges that come with being a young lefty hitter who is an important part of the lineup. He recalled getting to start regularly opposing left-handed starters during his 2017 rookie year in Los Angeles and seeing some of those starts decrease the following season based on the Dodgers’ offseason moves to add right-handed hitters. But like Busch, he still appeared in every game because of his use off the bench.
Bellinger has turned into one of the best left-handed hitters against lefties in the game, a trend that has continued this year with a .330/.342/.459 line — better numbers than he’s put up versus righties.
“He’s performing at a really high level and I think there’s even more in the tank, which is exciting,” Bellinger said of Busch to the Tribune. “But it’s very consistent. You know what you’re going to get which is a good thing.”
Bellinger believes his success against left-handers in the minors and early in his career helped set him up for success in the majors. Busch remembers really struggling off lefties in 2021 at Double A and putting in the work to better handle those left-on-left at-bats. But even during those struggles, his strikeout-to-walk rate highlighted his ability to avoid chasing too much, recording 20 walks and 29 strikeouts in 121 plate appearances versus left-handers in 2021.
“But then it was just a matter of fouling pitches off, and I feel like for me it was getting those reps and at-bats against lefties in ’22 and then just honing in on, kind of like right-handers, when they make that mistake being able to put that ball forward in a sense. Putting importance on that really helped because I knew I wasn’t going to chase.”
Busch showed last year at Triple A he can be successful facing left-handers after he hit .284 and had a .383 on-base percentage and .795 OPS in 167 plate appearances. While the majors are a different beast, the time will eventually come with the Cubs when Busch gets a chance to be in the lineup every day no matter who is on the mound.
