Seiya Suzuki continued his pre-break form with a home run that extinguished the Red Sox.

Entering the All-Star break, Seiya Suzuki boasted the second-most RBIs in the National League (77), the fourth-most home runs (25), and the 11th highest wRC+ (138), making a strong case for an All-Star selection.

Although he ultimately did not make the All-Star team for the first time in his career, it was of little consequence—today, in the Cubs' 4-1 victory over the Red Sox in their second-half opener at Wrigley Field, Suzuki seamlessly carried over his pre-break performance.

In the bottom of the first inning, after Michael Busch and Kyle Tucker reached base via walks, Suzuki attacked the first pitch thrown by Boston starter Lucas Giolito. Suzuki turned on a 93.5 mph four-seam fastball that was above the strike zone, launching it over the left-center field wall for a three-run homer. This brought his season total to 26 home runs and pushed his RBIs past 80, raising his wRC+ to 141.

This scoring play ultimately secured the victory for Chicago—Colin Rea and five Cubs relievers held the Red Sox to just one run in the third inning, ending Boston's ten-game winning streak and giving the Cubs a strong start to the second half.

Busch drew a walk on six pitches to open the inning, while Tucker saw eight pitches. This allowed Suzuki to observe Giolito closely, enabling him to adopt an aggressive approach—exactly what he has been seeking to utilize more this season.

"(Giolito) had great control, and I saw a lot of pitches in my first two at-bats," Suzuki said through translator Edwin Stanberry. "Having a high pitch count created a situation for him, so I thought to myself: 'If the opportunity arises, I have to be aggressive on the first pitch.'"

This mindset contributed to today's successful at-bat—Suzuki has produced similar performances multiple times before the All-Star break.

Prior to today, his home run and RBI totals had already set career highs (with 66 games remaining). Although his batting average and on-base percentage have dipped compared to 2024, his slugging percentage and isolated power have soared to levels far exceeding his previous major league career.

Therefore, his impactful hit today was simply a continuation of the production he has consistently provided as a core member of the Chicago lineup throughout the season.

"He has clearly maintained his pre-break form," Pete Crow-Armstrong said. "I hope he sees the second half as an opportunity to show everyone what they missed with the All-Star snub... Suzuki has always stepped up for us; he's incredible. I just hope he keeps this up and believes that everything will get better."

Suzuki was even surprised by his performance. When asked if he was having the best season of his baseball career, he replied, "Absolutely."

"I'm surprised at how many RBIs and home runs I've been able to accumulate," Suzuki added. "I never imagined reaching these numbers, so my goal for the second half is to maintain consistency."

Even though his first-half performance did not earn him All-Star recognition, Suzuki has still benefited from the break.

He received an invitation to the Home Run Derby but declined (joking that he wouldn't win anyway). Regarding the All-Star game, he quipped, "I was sleeping the whole time; I didn’t watch a single moment."

Jokes aside, he is grateful for the few days of rest. He noted that this is the first time in his four-year career that he hasn't missed a significant portion of the first half due to injury, but fatigue has indeed accumulated. Despite only a few days off, the break allowed him to recuperate and prepare for the second half.

With a record of 58-39, the Cubs are counting on him to continue leading one of the league's top lineups as they aim to secure the NL Central title over the next couple of months. Perhaps the rest during the All-Star break was the key for Suzuki to initiate the second-half surge with a victory.

"Suzuki enjoyed quality family time during the break," Crow-Armstrong remarked. "I'm glad he got some extra sleep. I just want Suzuki to get his rest every day—that's when he's at his best."