Busch's impact in leadoff spot propels Cubs to best record in MLB

CHICAGO -- The Cubs made a lineup switch in their last series before the All-Star break, resulting in Ian Happ moving down in the order. The plan moving forward seems to be that Nico Hoerner will hit leadoff against left-handed starters and Michael Busch will hit leadoff against right-handed starters.

With right-hander Brayan Bello starting for the Red Sox, Busch hit atop Chicago’s lineup for the third straight game and wasted no time making an impact in Saturday’s 6-0 win at Wrigley Field. The slugging first baseman launched a first-pitch home run. Then, Kyle Tucker went deep five pitches later, marking the 11th time the Cubs have gone back-to-back this season before Pete Crow-Armstrong and Happ made it 12 times in the eighth on a five-homer night for Chicago.

With their fourth consecutive victory, the North Siders moved to 20 games over .500 (59-39), the best record in the Major Leagues. They are 31-9 in games where they hit at least two home runs.

“Busch is a beast,” Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw said, who also homered in the win. “I think everyone in this clubhouse is just super excited and happy for him. It’s been great [watching him offensively].”

Busch doesn’t have much experience hitting leadoff across his short Major League career, but he continues to help the Cubs get out to early leads. He has launched a leadoff home run in two of the three games he has hit in that spot, including one against the Yankees in the final contest before the All-Star break.

On Saturday, the Cubs first baseman liked the first pitch he saw -- a 96.3 mph sinker from Bello -- and crushed it to the left-field bleachers to give Chicago an early lead.

“[Leading off] is something I’ve done a little bit in college baseball and the Minor Leagues," Busch said. “It’s a little bit different, but it’s kind of like leading off an inning. You come in, you’re leading off, you go out there, and just try to have your at-bat. The game will kind of tell you what you have to do first pitch, but I like to hit from the start.”

Busch’s growth offensively has been on display throughout the 2025 season. After hitting 21 home runs and driving in 65 runs in his first year with the Cubs in 2024, the slugger launched his 20th home run and totaled his 60th RBI on his first-inning homer.

Those power numbers, driven by his breakout campaign, are certainly part of the reason why Chicago sits in first place in the National League Central at this point. The 27-year-old ranks first in batting average (.289), third in home runs (20), third in RBIs (60), second in OBP (.374), and first in OPS (.926) among all qualified Cub players this season.

“He's just become a complete hitter,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I think that's probably the best way to say it. He’s just dangerous. I think the other team is really on that he's dangerous. You know, he's a combination of hitter, good plate discipline, and power. Those are the three things that are pretty darn good. So, he’s having a heck of a season.”

With Busch and Hoerner moving up in the order based on whether a lefty or righty starts the game, Happ has moved down from his usual leadoff spot. The three-time Gold Glove winner has been in a slump offensively over the past few weeks, entering the day hitting just .129 with two extra-base hits and 17 strikeouts since June 26.

But the Cubs know Happ’s potential in this offense and know he’ll eventually bounce back no matter where he hits in the lineup. The left fielder launched his solo shot in the eighth inning batting in the fifth spot.

“Ian is a very important part of this offense, and I think he's going to have a really big last two and a half months,” Counsell said pregame. “He’s in a spot now where he's going to drive in a lot of runs, but I think he's an important part of this offense. I’m fully confident that he's going to be that moving forward.”

Despite having the best record in baseball, the Cubs plan to continue taking it one game at a time.

“We have a pretty good team, but the past is the past,” Busch said. “We've got to keep going. We won the series today, but there's still a chance to win a game tomorrow. That’s kind of the mindset just going forward.”