WASHINGTON — Sometimes, Michael Busch’s offensive production can be overlooked.
In a lineup as deep as the Chicago Cubs’ that has shown they can beat teams in different ways, Busch’s steadiness has provided consistency capable of carrying the team for stretches. Without right fielder Kyle Tucker in the lineup Tuesday as he nurses a jammed right ring finger, Busch reached base four times and fell a double short of the cycle in the Cubs’ 8-3 win against the Washington Nationals.
Busch’s three-hit day and a bases-loaded walk paced the Cubs, whose four-run fifth inning broke a tie. Nico Hoerner capped the frame with a two-out, two-run double. Busch, who came into the series opener with a .344 average, .432 on-base percentage and 1.026 OPS in the last two weeks, connected for his ninth homer of the year in the seventh inning.
“He’s always patient so he’s always making very good swing decisions — it’s definitely a strength,” manager Craig Counsell said. “The ball that gets driven, the home run, is when you’re locked in, you get into a good count and you don’t miss something. … It’s always good swing decisions. You’re always going to get that from him, and that’s why it seems quiet sometimes, his production.”
The Cubs (38-22) continue to have all the marks of a great team. Twice they immediately answered the Nationals, taking the lead in the first and third innings by tying the game in the ensuing half inning. Rookie right-hander Cade Horton is pitching well in the injured Shota Imanaga’s rotation spot, holding a lefty-only Washington lineup to three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s presence on base set up the Cubs to tie the game in the fourth. A double and a stolen base put pressure on the Nationals’ defense. Third baseman José Tena hesitated on Carson Kelly’s grounder, putting his focus on Crow-Armstrong who had danced off third on the play but beat Tena to the base to give the Cubs runners on the corners. Busch (RBI single) and Dansby Swanson (sacrifice fly) immediately drove them in.
“You give this team four outs in an inning, I like our chances, right?” Counsell said. “We’ve done that a number of times, somehow get four outs in an inning, and if you give us four outs, we’re going to score.”
Perhaps most impressively, the Cubs came through with runners in scoring position, going 4-for-8 in such situations. Among the 13 qualified big-league hitters with a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of at least 200 with RISP, the Cubs have four: Busch (12th, 201 wRC+), Seiya Suzuki (11th, 202), Pete Crow-Armstrong (seventh, 207) and Carson Kelly (fourth, 229). Hoerner has been among the best in baseball in those situations when it comes to putting the ball in play. His .424 average with RISP ranks fourth in the majors.
Counsell described Hoerner as having the perfect approach in those spots.
“There’s going to be contact, it’s really hard to strike him out,” Counsell said. “It’s his elite skill, being very tough to strike out. And so you put runners on base and maybe defenders in a little bit different position, and it’s going to lead to good things.”
Busch reached base in nine consecutive plate appearances dating to Friday, a streak that ended on his flyout in the ninth.
“The biggest contributing factor is taking balls and swinging at strikes,” Busch said. “And when you’re doing that, you’re giving yourself a pretty good shot. I think I’ve been doing that pretty well lately.”
Busch’s performance on the road this year, although a small sample size, has featured impressive numbers. Entering Tuesday, the 27-year-old first baseman owned a .287/.362/.553 slash line and .915 OPS compared to .241/.370/.410 and a .780 OPS at Wrigley Field. Busch isn’t sure why there has been a notable contrast between his home and road splits, noting how he tries to keep the same approach no matter the ballpark.
“Just try to get in there every at-bat and just try to have a good one,” Busch said. “I have taken a lot of pride in that, and just try to give myself the best shot. Go through good stretches, bad stretches, but just try to show up with a similar mindset each and every day.”
