CHICAGO, IL — The Chicago Cubs routed the St. Louis Cardinals 11-0 on Sunday night, but the biggest storyline was the players who weren’t going to the Midsummer Classic. Designated hitter Seiya Suzuki, fresh off being excluded from the National League All-Star roster, delivered a powerful rebuttal, smashing his team-leading 25th home run and adding an RBI double in the blowout victory.
Suzuki’s dominant performance only fueled the frustration among Cubs fans and analysts who felt his numbers warranted a spot in the All-Star Game.
Suzuki’s Case for the DH Spot
After the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani secured the starting Designated Hitter role, the NL reserve spot went to Phillies slugger and former Cub Kyle Schwarber. Head-to-head, Suzuki’s statistical case was compelling:
- NL RBI Leader: Suzuki currently leads all players in Major League Baseball with 77 RBI.
- Doubles Advantage: He also holds an edge over Schwarber in the doubles category.
- Comparison: While Schwarber has a slight lead in home runs and a “healthy advantage” in runs scored, Suzuki’s league-leading RBI total was a significant argument for his inclusion.
Despite the obvious snub, Suzuki took the decision in stride. “There’s not necessarily ,” Suzuki said. “As a DH, looking across the league, there’s a lot of great DHs… no [hard] feelings.” When asked if he was free on the date of the game, he joked, “I’m sorry, my plans are full. Just kidding.”
Other Deserving Cubs Eclipsed
Suzuki was not the only Cubs hitter who many felt deserved a nod. The team has been one of the best offensive units in the NL this season, making multiple absences surprising:
| Player | Position | Key Stat (NL Rank) | All-Star Who Made It | The Argument |
| Michael Busch | First Base | .950 OPS (Leads all NL 1B; 5th in MLB) | Freddie Freeman (Starter), Pete Alonso, Matt Olson | Busch holds a statistical edge over Braves first baseman Matt Olson, who made the team. |
| Carson Kelly | Catcher | .879 OPS (3rd among C with 200+ PA) | Will Smith (Starter), Hunter Goodman | Kelly’s spot was likely claimed by Hunter Goodman, who was the mandated representative for the struggling Rockies. |
First baseman Michael Busch, in particular, has flown under the radar despite an elite offensive season. His .950 OPS leads all NL first basemen, though the presence of established stars like Freddie Freeman and Pete Alonso made his path difficult.
Busch, who had two hits and reached base four times Sunday, recently turned heads with a massive three-homer performance. Manager Craig Counsell noted that Busch’s quiet demeanor might have hindered his visibility. “You can give Michael Busch a lot of attention; he’s not going to care,” Counsell said. “Maybe it took a big game like that to put him on everybody’s map.”
Outfielder Ian Happ summed up the clubhouse sentiment, expressing hope that some players would still be added as injury replacements. “We have a number of other guys in this room who are deserving of being there,” Happ said. “Hopefully, in the next week or so, some of those guys get in, because they deserve it.”
