Criminally underappreciated Cubs player has a huge role to play in October

If the Chicago Cubs are going to find success in October, they almost certainly will need to have Kyle Tucker in their lineup. But even then, Tucker's second-half struggles would suggest that if he is playing hurt, he is far from the player who generated National League MVP consideration during the first half of the season. Add in the fact that Seiya Suzuki has looked lost over the last two months, and the Cubs may be forced to turn to an unsung hero.

That hero could be Michael Busch. For all the hits that Jed Hoyer had taken for his eagerness to give up on international prospects before they had broken out in the Cubs' system, trading for Busch appears to have been a stroke of genius. That doesn't take away from the price that the Cubs had to pay. Zyhir Hope and Jackson Ferris are worthy of the hype, but Busch is already at the Major League level and is one of the best offensive first basemen in baseball. Not to mention, Busch continues to be ascending toward being a Gold Glove award candidate in the coming seasons.

Michael Busch could be the surprising key to a deep Cubs run

Entering play on Thursday, Busch had a slash line on the season of .256/.338/.499 with 31 home runs and a 133 wRC+. Given the injuries to Tucker, Suzuki's inconsistency, and pitchers adjusting to Pete Crow-Armstrong, Busch could be the key to the Cubs' offense in October. Beyond that, the case can be made that outside of Nico Hoerner, Busch has been the most consistent hitter in the Cubs' starting lineup this season.

One thing that has been at the center of the Cubs' collective regression during the final two months of the season has been their inability to hit for power. If the Cubs are going to have an extended run in the playoffs, that will need to change. Easier said than done, especially when Wrigley Field has once again played to the advantage of pitchers. But, time after time this season, Busch's offensive efforts have carried the Cubs, and that will need to happen once again in October.

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