Cubs Blockbuster Brewing: Bregman, Holmes Incoming? Suzuki Shocker
Cubs Weekly Report: Hot Bats, Cool Arms, and Some Growing Pains
The Big Picture: A .500 Week Leaves Work to Do
The Chicago Cubs played six games this past week and came away with a 3-3 record. Here’s how it broke down:
- vs. Washington Nationals (away): Won 2 out of 3 games
- vs. St. Louis Cardinals (home at Wrigley): Lost 2 out of 3 games
The Bottom Line: The Cubs are chasing the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central division. To catch them, the Cubs need to start winning series (winning 2 out of 3 games) consistently, not just splitting them.
Who Was HOT This Week
1. Seiya Suzuki: The Model of Consistency
Think of Suzuki like a reliable alarm clock—he just shows up and does his job every single day.
His Week by the Numbers:
- Batting Average: .333 (8 hits in 24 at-bats)
- On-Base Percentage: .385 (gets on base a lot)
- Slugging Percentage: .750 (hits for power!)
- Extra Base Hits: 4 doubles + 2 home runs = 6 extra-base hits in 6 games
- Production: 7 RBI (runs batted in) + 6 runs scored
Why It Matters: Suzuki has been this steady for five full years with the Cubs. The article argues the team should make keeping him a top priority for the next few seasons.
Watch: Suzuki’s game-winning 3-run homer from Friday
2. Alex Bregman: The Washington Monster
Bregman didn’t just wake up the bats in D.C.—he set them on fire.
Historic Performance:
- First 2 games vs. Nationals: 4 home runs total
- Wednesday’s game: First three-homer game of his entire career
Full Week Stats:
- Batting Line: .300/.440/.900 (6-for-20)
- 4 Home Runs | 8 RBI | 5 Walks | 6 Runs Scored
- Fun Fact: Leads all National League players with 557 plate appearances this year (he plays almost every day!)
Watch: All three homers from Wednesday’s game
3. Clay Holmes: The Wrigley Debut We Hoped For
After a rough first outing in Kansas City, Holmes looked like a completely different pitcher at Wrigley.
Friday’s Masterpiece vs. Cardinals:
- 6.2 innings pitched (almost a complete game!)
- Only 1 hit allowed
- 11 ground-ball outs out of 20 total outs (hitters just pounded the ball into the dirt)
- Pitch Mix: Heavy on sinker (drops down) and sweeper (slides sideways) — a nasty combo
The Verdict: This is exactly the pitcher the Cubs thought they were trading for. Even if he’s only a "rental" (short-term player), this performance makes the trade a win.
Watch: Breakdown of Holmes’ sinker and sweeper
4. Javier Assad: The Unsung Hero (Who Got Demoted Anyway )
Assad keeps doing his job… and keeps getting sent down. It’s confusing.
His Resume Since May 5:
- 16 games | 61.1 innings
- 2.35 ERA (excellent)
- 1.043 WHIP (very few baserunners allowed)
- Just earned his 2nd save of the year
The Head-Scratcher: Despite this, he was sent back to Triple-A Iowa. The author hopes he’s back soon—and so should you.
Who Was NOT This Week
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA): Stuck in a Funk
PCA has 2 homers this week… but don’t let that fool you.
The Ugly Numbers:
- Batting Line: .107/.107/.357 (3-for-28)
- Only 1 non-homer hit all week
- 0 walks | 10 strikeouts
What’s Happening: Earlier this year, PCA became great at drawing walks (patience at the plate). Now pitchers are adjusting—throwing fewer hittable strikes—and PCA hasn’t adjusted back yet.
Outlook: The author believes he will figure it out, but it might take some time.
2. Javier Cabrera: Blisters Strike Again
Cabrera’s return from the Injured List went poorly—and an old enemy is to blame.
Sunday’s Start:
- Command issues: 3 walks in the 4th inning alone
- Post-game reveal: A blister on his pitching hand
- History: Blisters have plagued Cabrera throughout his career
Suggested Fix: Skip his next turn in the rotation to let the blister heal fully. Pushing through it usually makes it worse.
3. Michael Busch: Power Outage Continues
Busch is getting on base… but the ball isn’t leaving the yard.
Recent Slump:
- This week (5 games): .200/.238/.200 (4-for-20), 0 extra-base hits, 6 strikeouts
- Since July 21 (25 games): 1 home run in 112 plate appearances
- That stretch: .243/.277/.295 — very little power
The Good News: He’s walked enough to keep a .353 OBP (on-base percentage) — a career high!
The Fix: Manager Craig Counsell gave him Sunday off to reset mentally. Hopefully, the break helps him find his power stroke again.
ELI5: Key Baseball Terms Used Above
| Term | Simple Meaning |
|---|---|
| Batting Average (AVG) | Hits ÷ At-bats. .300 = 3 hits every 10 at-bats. |
| On-Base % (OBP) | How often a player reaches base (hits + walks + hit by pitch). |
| Slugging % (SLG) | Measures power. Singles=1, Doubles=2, Triples=3, HR=4. Total bases ÷ At-bats. |
| OPS | OBP + SLG. A quick "how good is this hitter?" number. |
| RBI | Runs Batted In. You hit, teammate scores. |
| ERA | Earned Run Average. Runs a pitcher allows per 9 innings. Lower = better. |
| WHIP | Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched. Fewer baserunners = better. |
| Plate Appearance | Every time a batter steps up (includes walks, sacrifices, etc.). |
| Rental | A player acquired for the rest of the season only (free agent after). |
| Triple-A / Iowa | The highest minor league level. One step below the majors. |
Important Takeaways
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Suzuki & Bregman are carrying the offense right now.
- Holmes looked like an ace in his Wrigley debut — huge for the rotation.
- Assad is pitching great but can’t stick on the roster — a roster crunch issue.
- PCA & Busch are slumping — normal for young hitters, but the Cubs need them to bounce back.
- Cabrera’s blister is a recurring problem — rest is the only real fix.
- The Cubs are treading water — 3-3 weeks won’t catch the Brewers.
Summary
The Cubs had a mixed bag of a week: explosive offense in Washington, quiet bats at home, a breakout start from Clay Holmes, and concerning slumps from two young regulars (PCA & Busch). The team sits at .500 for the week, which isn’t good enough to close the gap on the Brewers.
The good news: The core hitters (Suzuki, Bregman) are locked in, and the pitching showed flashes of dominance. The bad news: Depth pieces are struggling, and roster decisions (sending down Assad) are puzzling.
Next up: The Cubs must start winning series, not splitting them, if October baseball is the goal.
FAQ: Your Cubs Questions Answered
1. Why was Javier Assad sent to Triple-A if he’s pitching so well?
It’s usually a roster numbers game. The Cubs may need an extra bench bat, a different reliever type, or have a starter coming off the IL. Assad has minor-league options left, so he’s the easy one to shuffle down—even if he doesn’t deserve it performance-wise.
2. What’s a "three-homer game" and how rare is it?
It means a player hits 3 home runs in a single game. It’s very rare—only a handful happen across MLB each season. For Bregman to do it for the first time in his career (he’s been playing since 2016!) shows how locked in he was.
3. Why do blisters matter so much for pitchers?
Pitchers grip the ball thousands of times with intense pressure and friction. A blister on the fingertips or palm changes how the ball feels and releases. It kills command (where the ball goes) and can lead to worse injuries if pitched through.
4. What does "rental" mean for Clay Holmes?
He’s likely a free agent after this season. The Cubs traded for him knowing they only control him for the rest of 2026. If he pitches like Friday, the trade was worth it even if he leaves in November.
5. Can PCA and Busch fix their slumps quickly?
Yes. Both are young, talented, and have track records of success. Slumps are normal—even Hall of Famers go 0-for-20. The key is adjustments: PCA needs to regain plate discipline; Busch needs to rediscover his power timing. The day off for Busch was a smart first step.