Outlook Michael Busch
Michael Busch's elite plate discipline anchors his value heading into a busy seven-game week.
Michael Busch remains the primary first baseman for the third-place Cubs (40-37), keeping a firm hold on his starting role. While he has cooled to a .167 batting average over his last five games, his elite eye is keeping him afloat with a stellar .375 on-base percentage. This patience follows a productive month where he launched four home runs and drove in 15 runs.
His current .380 on-base percentage is a significant step forward from his career .335 and .346 marks over the previous two seasons. While he is unlikely to match last year's 38-homer outburst, his improved plate discipline supports our projection of a .330 OBP and 15 home runs. Expect him to remain a steady contributor as his power stabilizes.
The Cubs face a busy seven-game week on the road, starting with four games against a Mets pitching staff featuring struggling options like Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea. A weekend series against the first-place Brewers brings tougher matchups like Jacob Misiorowski, but the high-volume schedule makes Busch highly valuable. Start.
Updated 2 days ago
Latest News Michael Busch
Outlook Carson Benge
Rookie outfielder Carson Benge brings power-speed upside to a busy seven-game home slate.
The rookie has locked down the everyday right-field job for the fifth-place Mets (34-43), who are battling major injuries to stars like Francisco Lindor. Benge has flashed power lately, launching two home runs over his last six games. While his .224 average over the last 14 days was cold, his .556 slugging percentage last week shows his bat is heating back up.
Over 74 career games, Benge has logged nine homers and 11 steals, proving to be a highly productive power-speed asset. Although a high strikeout rate presents a batting average risk, his defensive prowess and base-running instincts secure his plate appearances. His current .257 mark is sustainable and closely aligns with our projection of a .270 average.
The Mets face a busy seven-game week at home. Hitters get favorable draws early against Chicago's Edward Cabrera (5.40 ERA) before squaring off against tougher pitchers like Ben Brown (1.85 ERA) and Phillies ace Zack Wheeler (2.11 ERA). Due to his locked-in role and category-juice potential, deploy him in deeper leagues. Verdict: Start.
Updated 2 days ago
