Cubs reliever Caleb Thielbar has key error, but why was Matt Shaw playing first base?

There can be no disputing that a throwing error by Cubs reliever Caleb Thielbar in the 11th inning allowed the deciding run to score in the Pirates’ 4-3 win over the Cubs, especially after the Cubs failed to capitalize on a similar wild throw by Pirates reliever Yohan Ramirez in the bottom of the inning, leaving the bases loaded.But dig deeper, and you discover a connection between the error and an 0 for 30 slump by Cubs first baseman Michael Busch, which is twice as long as any o-fer he has ever had in the big leagues. Take away Busch’s slump, and maybe the only defense between Thielbar’s throw and right field isn’t a guy, Matt Shaw, wearing a first baseman’s mitt for the first time in his professional career.“Yeah, I mean Michael’s struggling,’’ manager Craig Counsell said of Busch, who hasn’t hit safely since his seventh-inning single against the Angels here on April 1, eight games ago. “I mean, he’s struggling, and you know, he’s struggling.’’Sometimes, no other word suffices.“We’re working on it,’’ Counsell said. “We’re trying to figure it out. He’s trying to figure it out. But you know, we got to take a look at, maybe a harder look, at what’s going on.’’With the Cubs desperate to string together rallies to overcome the 3-0 lead starting pitcher Edward Cabrera spotted the Pirates through three innings, Counsell lifted Busch, who was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a groundout, for pinch hitter Carson Kelly with a runner…

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