3 early Chicago Cubs candidates poised for the All-Star Game

The Chicago Cubs have started hot to begin the 2024 campaign. Right out of the gate, they have endured several playoff-caliber teams and injuries to their best players. Despite it all, the team has a winning record, largely thanks to contributions from certain players. If they continue playing at this All-Star level, all of them will be locks to earn the honor. Here are three Cubs who are early candidates to head to Texas for the All-Star Game.

3 early All-Star candidates - 3. Shota Imanaga

We knew earlier in Spring Training that Shota Imanaga had the swing-and-miss stuff that the Cubs lacked in the starting rotation. Since then, he has started three games during the regular season and currently leads the National League in ERA among starters that have started at least three games with a perfect 0.00 in 15.1 innings pitched. His production has been critical to the Cubs' success, with Justin Steele still nursing a hamstring on the IL.

Imanaga's perfection on the mound speaks for itself. He won't record a 0.00 for the rest of the season, but whatever was apparently wrong in Spring Training has since been addressed, and it shows. The fly balls are there, terrifying us every time, but that is who he is. The results follow, and Imanaga doesn't have to do anything close to what he is doing right now to be considered at an All-Star level. He's been that good to start his major league career.

2. Michael Busch

Another acquisition made this past winter by Jed Hoyer was Michael Busch. At the time, before signing Bellinger, Busch was the team's lone offensive addition, but Hoyer deserves all the credit. Busch has been a revelation through the early part of the season. Busch was one step away from breaking out, and the Cubs scooped him up via trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers just in time. Busch's tear has been historic, and he currently leads the Cubs in home runs and RBIs.

These are no cheap homers, either. This one blasted with Merrill Kelly, a solid veteran pitcher, on the mound, and another off of Seattle Mariners ace Luis Castillo the night before is proof enough that Busch is putting it all together at the major league level. The best part is that he isn't just slugging, as his slash line is about the same as he had in Triple-A a season ago. These are All-Star numbers, and though he won't hit one out every night, his production will catapult him to stardom this season.