Alex Bregman admitted Monday he should have run harder to first base during the Chicago Cubs' 4-3 walk-off victory over Milwaukee. In the sixth inning with the Cubs trailing 1-0, Bregman jogged on a ground ball to shortstop Cooper Pratt, who bobbled the ball but still recorded the out. The mistake cost Chicago a scoring chance, though they rallied to win in extra innings.

Bregman's lack of hustle reflects his frustrating season. He's hitting just .181 this month with a .253 slugging percentage, and his 24% chase rate on pitches outside the zone would set a new career high. After signing a $175 million contract this winter, Bregman owns a .239 average with only six homers and a disappointing .671 OPS. His struggles with runners in scoring position (.163) have become a significant liability.

Despite Bregman's miscue, the Cubs took three of four from the first-place Brewers and finished a 6-1 road trip. The team placed Matt Shaw (sprained left hand) and Ethan Roberts (elbow inflammation) on the injured list, recalling Kevin Alcantara and Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A. Shaw's absence creates more playing time for Michael Conforto in right field.

Bregman's honesty about his effort and his ongoing offensive struggles have become a distraction for a Cubs team fighting for playoff positioning. The veteran third baseman needs to rediscover his approach at the plate while proving he can still compete at the highest level.