Cubs’ Top Players Driving Their Success in 2026

The Chicago Cubs’ top players have been a major reason for the team’s success in 2026. While contributions have come from throughout the roster, a few individuals have consistently stood above the rest. Strong performances at the plate and on the mound have helped keep Chicago among the contenders in 2026. While a majority of the roster have had inconsistent seasons, there are still a few names to highlight as important contributors.

The Cubs’ Top Players to Start 2026

There have not been as strong performances across the entire roster as the team had hoped. The starting rotation has not lived up to its promise, and the bats went quiet for most of May, leading to a 10-game losing streak. When looking for the reason that Chicago has stayed in the mix, a few key names pop out. One has started to get hot at the right time, and one has been holding down the starting rotation amid its recent struggles.

Cubs Top Hitter: Michael Busch

Michael Busch has a slow start to the season, which has left many fans concerned. His power is still down from last season, as he only has six home runs. However, he has heated up in May. His bat was actually key in helping solve the question of how to end the May slump. In May, he had a .300 batting average, four homers, and 24 RBI. Among players at first base, he was one of the most valuable players for the month.

WAR Leaders by Team — First Base pic.twitter.com/RfUjwlxo5P

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) June 1, 2026

On the season, his six homers are tied for fifth on the team. He leads the team with 35 RBI. In terms of bringing in runs, very few on the Cubs are better. Busch is also the best at getting on base, as his .370 OBP is the highest on the team. Just to prove the point even more, he has the second-highest OPS and the third-best slugging percentage. While these do not lead the team, it shows higher consistency than anyone else.

Cubs Top Pitcher: Ben Brown

Similar to the hitters, the pitching staff has dealt with a rough season. Ben Brown does not fit this model, as he has had a breakout season. On the season, he is 2-2 with a 1.92 ERA. He also has 53 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings. In past seasons, he was always one of the players with the highest potential. Due to expanding his pitch arsenal, he is finally living up to the hype. His time in the bullpen was strong, but since becoming a starter, he has been elite.

Ben Brown’s first 5 starts this season:

4 IP | 0 ER | 3 K
4 IP | 0 ER | 7 K
5 IP | 3 ER | 6 K
6 IP | 1 ER | 7 K
7 IP | 1 ER | 6 K

He’s carried his success from the bullpen straight into the rotation! pic.twitter.com/wCSXCwTcu5

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) May 31, 2026

Really, everything has been positive around him, as his strikeout numbers are up, he is limiting home runs, and increasing his ability to go deep in games.  There is really no one else in Chicago close to him in terms of pitching. Arguably, he is one of the Cubs’ top players. He has stabilized the starting rotation at a much-needed time. If he keeps this up and the Cubs make the postseason, he may very well be in line to start their first game.

Honorable Mentions

When looking at the rest of the roster, there are still plenty of candidates who deserve recognition as being one of the Cubs’ top players. Hoby Milner has been a force out of the bullpen. For a while, the ‘pen had its struggles. But lately, they have picked it up. Unlike the others, Milner has been consistent for the majority of the season.  This year, he is 1-0 with a 2.49 ERA in 25 1/3 innings. He has not struck out many hitters, only 12 so far. However, he has also been reliable, as he has pitched more than any other reliever on the team.

Another leading bat is someone about whom many Cubs fans don’t have the most positive thoughts.  Ian Happ has struggled with strikeouts and has had long slumps, but has also been one of the team’s most productive hitters. This year, he is hitting .230, which is only the sixth-highest figure on the team, but is fairly similar to some others in the lineup. His 13 homers are almost double that of anyone else on the team. He also leads the team in runs, has the best OPS, and has the second most RBI, behind only Busch. He also still offers his Gold Glove-level defense. The criticism is fair, but he still is one of the Cubs’ top players.

Last Word on the Cubs Top Players

The Cubs have received valuable contributions from many players on the roster. Milner and Happ are prime examples of this, offering quality play and deserve recognition for that. However, Busch and Brown stand alone as some of the top players on the team. They have helped stabilize the bats and rotation, which both have been very rough otherwise. As long as both of these guys can keep up their solid starts, then the Cubs should be able to stay in the race in a highly competitive NL Central.

Main Photo Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images