By the time Michael Conforto got his usual opportunity off the bench, the Chicago Cubs were cruising.
A six-run first inning that knocked out Detroit Tigers starter Framber Valdez after 10 batters, 42 pitches and two outs gave Cubs left-hander David Peterson all the run support he needed in an 11-2 victory. Conforto’s moment arrived in the fifth with the Cubs holding a seven-run lead. It was a typical spot for manager Craig Counsell to utilize the veteran, and even as the Cubs headed toward a blowout win, Conforto got the call with Tigers right-hander Brenan Hanifee on the mound.
Before this year, Conforto had tallied only two pinch-hit home runs in 10 seasons and 109 plate appearances. The Cubs have found good spots to deploy Conforto, and it’s paid off. He slugged his MLB-leading fourth pinch-hit home run Tuesday night, a two-run shot, and ninth of the season off a changeup left over the middle of the plate.
“It’s always, can you find a player that can do this job and be successful at it? And I don’t know if there’s any blueprint for it, but Michael has done a fabulous job at it,” Counsell said. “It’s a real weapon to have somebody like that. I mean, all year it feels like his biggest hits have been pinch hits.”
Conforto’s four pinch-hit home runs this season are tied with Glenallen Hill (1999) for the most by a Cub in franchise history since at least 1901. His record-tying home runs have come in just 29 pinch-hit plate appearances. He is the first big-leaguer with at least four pinch-hit home runs in a season since Austin Slater and Pablo Sandoval in 2021.
“It kind of started in a place that I had an understanding of what my role was going to be, at least to start the season, and so just kind of gearing everything towards how do I do that job the best that I can and tweaking my routines and learning along the way, trial and error,” Conforto said. “In some of the bigger spots, just trying to see myself in those situations and seeing the result that the team needs.”
Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson celebrates with Michael Conforto after Conforto hit a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field on July 21, 2026, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Eight of the Cubs starters reached base at least once Tuesday, led by Pete Crow-Armstrong tying his career high by getting on five times, including three walks.
The Cubs (57-44) needed Peterson to step up in the rotation amid all their starting pitcher injuries after they acquired him from the New York Mets on June 25. Peterson produced his first quality start as a Cub with 6 2/3 shutout innings against the Tigers while allowing only three hits and one walk. He has surrendered two runs or fewer in three of his four starts with the Cubs.
“When those guys are running to the bat rack and excited to hit, my job’s to put the ball in the zone and get quick outs and let them get back in and start hitting again,” Peterson said. “(The defense) gives you a lot of confidence to throw strikes, put the ball on the ground.”
Peterson and Conforto spent the 2020-21 seasons together with the Mets, and both are producing in a Cubs uniform the way they expected of each other. Peterson credits Conforto for taking him under his guidance as a rookie in 2020. Conforto, ecstatic when he heard the Cubs traded for the left-hander, knew how well Peterson would fit in with the Cubs. He was among the first players to reach out to Peterson after the trade.
“He really takes care of his business and does things the right way, and he’s just a great human being,” Conforto said. “But he’s also a competitor on the mound and a guy that I think the best is ahead of him for sure.”
Said Peterson of Conforto: “It’s been fun to watch his career from afar, but I’m glad we’ve gotten to play together. … Just a special teammate, special guy works his butt off every day, and so it’s fun to see him have success when he’s in the starting lineup, and he’s a huge weapon for us off the bench.”
Photos: Chicago Cubs 11, Detroit Tigers 2
Conforto’s contributions have helped lessen the blow of losing Matt Shaw’s versatility.
Although the lefty-hitting Conforto has largely been used in a platoon with Seiya Suzuki or Shaw in right field or at the designated hitter spot, Counsell had been working Shaw into the lineup against right-handers prior to his injury. In his 11 games before getting hurt on a swing June 28, Shaw hit .273 with three extra-base hits, eight RBIs and a .400 on-base percentage.
The Cubs recently had Shaw’s left hand reimaged, which showed significant healing. While he continues to feel better, the 24-year-old has struggled to get over the last hurdle to be symptom-free when hitting and thus full go in the rehab process. Shaw will head to the team’s complex in Arizona while the Cubs are on their upcoming road trip.
“It’s been a stubborn sprain, so to speak, but he’s improving, and it’s just that hand when you swing a baseball bat for a living, it involves the wrist heavily, and he’s just not quite past it,” Counsell said Tuesday. “But the good news was the additional imaging showed very much improved healing and that makes Matt feel good, obviously.”