Michael Busch has settled in nicely as the everyday first baseman for the Chicago Cubs.
He'll try to help the Cubs win their third in a row when they host the Milwaukee Brewers in the second game of their three-game set on Tuesday evening.
Busch had two hits and an RBI in a 3-1 win against the Brewers in the series opener on Monday night, raising his batting average to .313 for July.
The Los Angeles Dodgers traded Busch to the Cubs on Jan. 11, along with right-hander Yency Almonte, in exchange for left-hander Jackson Ferris and outfielder Zyhir Hope.
Two weeks into the season, Busch tied a Cubs record by homering in five straight games from April 10-15, but he hit just .202 the second half of April and throughout May -- a span of 38 games -- before bouncing back with a .297 mark in June.
"Offensively, he's been just consistent," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. "He had a little (cold) stretch after the hot streak, but since, it feels like June, super consistent and good at-bats and a tough out."
Counsell has been equally impressed with Busch's development defensively. He primarily played third and second base in the minors.
"The progress that he's made defensively, to me, from the start of spring training to where we're at now, has been fun to watch, for sure," Counsell said. "He's taken a couple really big steps forward and turned himself into, what's been these last 50 or so games, a really good first baseman."
On the mound, the Cubs plan to start veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon on Tuesday.
Taillon (7-4, 3.10 ERA) is 3-0 in three starts this month with a 3.38 ERA. He's been helped with an offense that has scored 10, nine and eight runs in his past three outings.
He most recently allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of an 8-3 win at St. Louis against the Cardinals on July 14.
Taillon has faced the Brewers three times this season and is 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA across 18 innings.
Overall, he's 4-8 with a 3.29 ERA and one save in 17 career appearances against Milwaukee, including 16 starts.
The Brewers plan to counter with veteran right-hander Colin Rea.
Rea (9-3, 3.77) is trying to post double-digit victories for the first time in his six-year career.
He won his most recent outing on July 14 against the Washington Nationals. Rea came out of the bullpen for the third time this season and allowed two runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings in the 9-3 victory.
"It's not easy being a starter and then coming in after an opener," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "Colin's done it a couple times, but it's still not easy to get in the flow of the game."
Rea has made two starts against Chicago this season and won the most recent one on June 28, when he allowed two runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-2 win.
He also went 5 1/3 innings against the Cubs on May 30, allowing one run and five hits, but he did not receive a decision in the 6-4 victory in Milwaukee.
In his four career starts against Chicago, he is 1-0 with a 3.05 ERA.
This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.
