Craig Counsell remains confident Cubs offense will improve despite early struggles

The Chicago Cubs have faced a challenging start to their 2026 campaign, with the offense failing to meet expectations so far. Despite the team’s ambitious World Series aspirations, the offense has been an area of concern, ranking near the bottom of multiple categories across the league.

Currently, the Cubs are sitting at 23rd in batting average, with a mere .219, and 27th in slugging percentage at .342. Their inability to capitalize with runners in scoring position has also contributed to their underwhelming start. The Cubs are 22nd in runs batted in with runners on base, having only scored 37 RBIs in these situations.

This offensive slump has undeniably played a role in multiple early-season losses, with the team only averaging 2.3 runs across their seven defeats. As a team with aspirations to contend for the World Series, this slow start has been especially frustrating for both the players and fans alike.

In a frustrating 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates last Friday, the Cubs left 11 runners stranded on base, failing to come through in key moments. The Cubs went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, marking their second shutout loss of the season. The first came at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels on March 31, a game where the offense also struggled to break through.

The situation worsened on Saturday when the Cubs suffered a 4-3 loss in 10 innings. Once again, the offense failed to capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities, leaving 16 runners on base and going just 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position. These missed chances, especially late in the game, have raised concerns about the team’s ability to execute in high-pressure situations.

In the 5th inning, with runners on second and third with one out, the Cubs could only muster a single run. In the 7th inning, with the same runners in scoring position and no outs, they again managed just one run. Perhaps most devastating, in the 10th inning, they had first and second with one out, but failed to score, and in the 11th inning, despite having second and third with no outs, they again came away empty-handed.

Despite these struggles, the Cubs’ offense has not been without its bright spots. Players like Michael Busch, Alex Bregman, and Ian Happ have yet to find a rhythm at the plate, but their talent remains undeniable. Busch, in particular, is currently mired in a difficult 0-for-30 stretch, and his season average sits at just .118. Meanwhile, Bregman has posted a .207 batting average and four RBIs, while Happ is batting .208 with a high strikeout rate of 36%. In addition, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson are also struggling, with Crow-Armstrong batting .218 and Swanson posting an even lower .149 average.

The team’s offensive inconsistency is evident in their current under .500 record, as the Cubs have been unable to string together quality at-bats and sustain rallies. Across their seven losses, they have averaged just 2.3 runs per game, highlighting the clear need for improvement.

However, manager Craig Counsell remains optimistic despite the Cubs’ early-season struggles. Following Saturday’s extra-innings defeat, Counsell expressed confidence that things would improve as the season progressed.

“It’s gonna turn, it’s gonna happen,” Counsell said during his post-game interview. “That’s the way you have to look at it. You miss opportunities as a hitter, and you’re mad at yourself, but it’ll turn.”

His confidence in the offense’s eventual turnaround is rooted in the belief that slumps are a natural part of baseball. He is convinced that, with time, the Cubs will get into a groove and the offensive output will improve.

While the Cubs’ offense has certainly not been a strong suit thus far, there are several reasons to believe that better days are ahead for this group. Several key players, such as Busch, are bound to break out of their slumps. Busch’s bat will eventually heat up, and as the weather warms up in Chicago, the home run balls will start flying more consistently. Veteran hitters like Happ, Swanson, and Bregman are also expected to see their batting averages climb as the season progresses and they find their rhythm.

In addition to the promise of individual breakouts, the Cubs also have several advanced metrics that suggest better offensive days ahead. Both Happ and Moises Ballesteros, for example, have barrel rates ranking inside the top 5% of the league. This indicates that when they make contact, they are hitting the ball with authority, even if the results haven’t always shown up in the box score. Swanson, Bregman, and Carson Kelly all have elite hard-hit rates, another encouraging sign that their offensive production will increase once they start making more consistent contact.

The Cubs’ offense is also fortunate to have a consistent presence at the top of the lineup in Nico Hoerner, who continues to set the tone for the rest of the batting order. Hoerner’s ability to get on base and create opportunities for the middle of the order will prove invaluable as the season unfolds.

It’s important to keep in mind that the Cubs still have 92% of the season left to play, meaning there’s plenty of time for the offense to find its rhythm and improve. While the struggles so far have certainly been frustrating, the potential for growth and improvement is evident. The Cubs’ offense will inevitably get better as the season progresses, and manager Craig Counsell’s optimism should prove to be well-founded.

As for the rest of the season, fans can look forward to a more balanced attack from the Cubs. Once the offense heats up and the team starts capitalizing on scoring opportunities, the Cubs will once again be a formidable force in the NL Central. They’ll need to address their offensive woes in the coming weeks, but with a talented group of hitters and a manager confident in their abilities, better days are undoubtedly on the horizon for the Chicago Cubs.

As always, stay tuned for more updates on the Cubs’ offensive struggles and potential solutions as the season unfolds.