Cubs’ Alex Bregman Shines with Stellar Performance Against Nationals

Alex Bregman spent Tuesday morning meticulously analyzing his swing changes. In his hotel room, he reviewed videos alongside Chicago Cubs’ assistant director of major-league development, Ben Martin. Through KinaTrax data, they evaluated Bregman’s biomechanical setup, focusing on his swing load. They compared his recent form to videos from his 2016 Double-A season at Corpus Christi.

Bregman noticed significant differences and carried those thoughts into batting practice. His shoulder and hip adjustments paid off as the Cubs faced the Washington Nationals. Following a home run on Tuesday, Bregman triumphed again Wednesday, hitting three home runs for the first time in his career and recording seven RBIs in a 12-6 victory. This marked a career-high in RBIs for the 10-year veteran.

Discussing his improvements, Bregman expressed newfound confidence. “The changes in the last month felt progressive, but these last two days were transformative,” he shared. He credited consistent effort and patience for his recent success.

Joining an exclusive group, the Cubs became the third team since 1920 to have two players with a three-home-run, seven-RBI game in one season. This feat aligns them with the New York Yankees of 1995 and 2025. Coach Craig Counsell emphasized the rigorous nature of the 162-game season, highlighting Bregman’s dedication to continuous improvement.

The Cubs (71-50), now 21 games above .500, have dominated by scoring 10 or more runs in 17 games, averaging 7.1 runs over their last nine contests. Left-hander David Peterson conceded four runs, contributing to the Cubs’ offensive triumph against the Nationals. The Cubs excelled with two outs, leading MLB with 241 runs in these situations.

Focusing on their impressive offensive stats, the Cubs rank second in two-out on-base percentage (.344), average (.248), and OPS (.741). Dansby Swanson, with a homer and double, praised the team’s preparation, emphasizing their commitment to each at-bat.

Cubs’ success against left-handers continued. Jackson Kent, making his Nationals debut, faced a relentless Cubs lineup leading the majors in on-base percentage (.357), slugging (.449), and OPS (.806) against left-handed pitchers. Despite striking out Pete Crow-Armstrong twice, Kent allowed a game-tying RBI double from Crow-Armstrong in the fifth inning. Lefty reliever Tom Cosgrove also struggled, allowing three runs.

Manager Counsell highlighted individual performances against lefties, particularly Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch. Their standout contributions have positioned the Cubs as formidable contenders.