Alex Bregman is still going through it, and the Chicago Cubs have lost patience with their big free-agent signing. We’re now past the midway point of the 2026 season, and while the team has done a good job overcoming a boatload of pitching injuries, Bregman’s performance remains a growing problem. Besides the below-average results at the plate, Bregman has found a new way to piss off Cubs fans.
In Sunday’s series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals, Bregman came through with an RBI double in the first inning, driving in Pete Crow-Armstrong from second base. The third baseman is only hitting .184 this year with runners in scoring position, which has drawn the ire of everyone rooting for the Cubs. Recent events, including Bregman not running hard on a ground ball, and being coy about making a thumbs-down gesture after a home run at Wrigley Field has made fans even more upset, and he gave them another reason to be pissed later on against the Cardinals.
In the sixth inning, the Cubs rallied after the Cardinals went ahead 3-2. Leading 6-2 with two outs, Bregman was up at the plate with Crow-Armstrong at second base when Bregman struck out looking on a 2-2 sweeper. Bregman challenged the strike three call, and it wasn’t even close.
Luckily, it didn’t come back to haunt the Cubs after they lost that challenge, but the fact that it was Bregman who lost it made fans annoyed. All we’ve been hearing since he was signed is that Bregman makes excellent swing decisions; he has a great sense of the strike zone, which leads to an immaculate plate approach.
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Well, through 88 games this season, not only has Bregman been subpar, posting a .685 OPS, but he’s also been atrocious with runners in scoring position, is near the top of the league in infield pop-ups, and is not good at all at challenging balls/strikes.
Bregman leads the Cubs with 14 pitch challenges, but the right-handed hitter has only been correct six times. Unfortunately, the Cubs as a team have been rather poor when challenging pitches on offense, averaging only a 43% overturn rate, the same as Bregman. Seiya Suzuki is the only hitter on the team with an overturn rate above 50%, as he’s been 6-for-9 when challenging strike calls.
But these types of comments just aren’t helping Bregman’s case.
Just produce, man.
