Chicago Cubs Offense Struggles as Top Hitters Slump

Michael Busch, Alex Bregman, and others off to slow starts as Cubs look to turn things around

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game or players' actions broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette of navy, red, and yellow, conveying the disjointed nature of the Cubs' struggling offense.The Chicago Cubs' offense has been fragmented and disjointed to start the 2026 season, as their star hitters struggle to find their rhythm at the plate.Chicago Today

The Chicago Cubs' offense has sputtered out of the gate in the 2026 season, with several of their top hitters, including Michael Busch, Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Dansby Swanson, all struggling mightily at the plate. Despite the team ranking fourth in MLB in hard-hit rate, they sit below average in batting average and wRC+, scoring just 3 runs per game over their last 10 contests.

Why it matters

The Cubs' offensive struggles are concerning, as they were expected to be one of the top teams in the National League this season. If their star players can't get going, it could derail their playoff hopes early on. The team will need to find a way to get production from their lineup if they want to compete in the tough NL Central division.

The details

Michael Busch, the Cubs' breakout star from 2025, has been the poster child for the team's offensive woes. After hitting 34 home runs and posting a 140 wRC+ last season, Busch is off to a dreadful start in 2026, slashing just .125/.232/.167 with no homers in 56 plate appearances. He's currently riding a 27 at-bat hitless streak. Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Dansby Swanson have also struggled mightily, with Bregman and Swanson both hitting under .200 so far.

  • Through the first two weeks of the 2026 MLB season
  • In the Cubs' 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday

The players

Michael Busch

The Cubs' first baseman led the team with 34 home runs and a 140 wRC+ in 2025, but has gotten off to a disastrous start in 2026, hitting just .125 with no homers.

Alex Bregman

The veteran third baseman is hitting .192/.276/.327 with 2 home runs and a 77 wRC+ so far this season.

Pete Crow-Armstrong

The young outfielder is batting .216/.245/.294 with 1 home run and a 55 wRC+ through the first two weeks.

Dansby Swanson

The shortstop is hitting just .140/.269/.233 with 1 home run and a 54 wRC+ to begin the year.

Moises Ballesteros

The 22-year-old rookie has shown promising underlying numbers despite posting only a .583 OPS through 33 plate appearances.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Cubs will look to get their offense back on track in the coming weeks, as their star players try to break out of their early-season slumps. If the team's top hitters can't turn things around soon, it could put their playoff hopes in jeopardy.

The takeaway

The Cubs' offensive struggles to start the 2026 season are a major concern, as their best hitters have all been mired in prolonged slumps. If the team's star players can't find their groove at the plate soon, it could derail their playoff aspirations early on.