With the 2026 postseason looming, slumping stars Michael Busch, Ian Happ, and Seiya Suzuki must ignite their bats to prevent a disastrous early exit for Chicago.
It’s pivotal for the Chicago Cubs to get hot down the stretch.
With the 2026 postseason right around the corner, the Cubs have to be playing their best baseball over the next few weeks. That means several hitters on this team have to start getting going. Entering the playoffs in a cold offensive streak is usually a spell of disaster.
Here are three Cubs hitters who must heat up before the end of the regular season.
Michael Busch
Michael Busch’s numbers have taken a step back from last season. After slashing .261/.343/.523 with 34 home runs, 25 doubles, and 90 RBI across 155 games in 2025, Busch hasn’t been as consistent at the plate in 2026. His current .238/.347/.395 slash line with 19 home runs and 76 RBI explains just that.
To make matters worse, Busch’s numbers over the last few weeks have been even worse. He’s slashing just .190/.268/.397 with three home runs and 10 RBI over his last 17 games since August 26. That is obviously not a great sign entering the final weeks of the regular season.
It’s crucial for Busch to get into a groove at the plate before the playoffs begin. He was a big part of last year’s playoff roster, hitting .296 with four home runs across eight contests. That version of the first baseman has to show up again.
Ian Happ
Ian Happ has had a lot of struggles at the plate this season. He’s slashing just .219/.329/.410 with 23 home runs, 24 doubles, two triples, and 65 RBI across 145 games. While his home run numbers are right where they usually are, his low batting average and career-worst OBP have made him a liability in the Cubs lineup at times.
His numbers since August 26 are also a bit concerning. Happ has a .195 batting average with zero extra-base hits and four RBI over his last 15 contests. He continues to strike out a ton and isn’t hitting for power at the moment.
The hope is that Happ can figure it out down the stretch and get hot before the postseason. If he doesn’t, manager Craig Counsell could roll with Tyrone Taylor in the outfield during the Wild Card Round.
Seiya Suzuki
Unlike the other two hitters on this list, Seiya Suzuki has actually had a strong offensive year. He’s slashing .268/.367/.474 with 24 home runs, 30 doubles, one triple, and 81 RBI across 133 games in 2026.
However, Suzuki is reeling a bit at the plate right now. The Japanese slugger is batting .163 with two doubles and one RBI in 13 September games. It’s clear that he is just in one of those slumps at the moment.
It’s important for him to get out of this slump before the regular season ends because he’s such a big part of this Cubs offense. The North Siders will need him to return to being that dangerous hitter at the top of the order.
