Pete Crow-Armstrong’s MVP Journey and Playoff Anticipations

In late April, Pete Crow-Armstrong faced a challenging start to his season with the Chicago Cubs during their first West Coast trip at Petco Park. With only one home run in his initial 119 plate appearances over 29 games, frustration surfaced when his performance didn’t improve in the series opener against the Padres. His disappointment was evident as he discarded his batting gloves in a moment of frustration.

What followed marked the beginning of his turnaround. Crow-Armstrong hit a three-run homer against Padres lefty Wandy Peralta on April 28 and continued with a two-run shot against right-hander Matt Waldron the next night. These performances signified the start of an MVP-caliber season. Over the subsequent weeks, he consistently posted a .288/.386/.624 slash line and a 1.009 OPS.

Crow-Armstrong reflected on this transformative period, noting the importance of persevering through the season’s challenges. “When you’re in April and May and have already played a considerable number of games, it feels like a lot of time has passed, but that was my reminder of the ample time available to turn things around,” he shared.

The Cubs, despite missing their goal of hosting the wild-card series at Wrigley Field, face the Padres on the road with Matthew Boyd as their key pitcher in Game 1. Crow-Armstrong is central to the Cubs’ lineup, seeking redemption for a less favorable postseason debut in 2025.

The pressure shifts as Crow-Armstrong, the presumptive National League MVP, approaches the playoffs as a fresh opportunity. “I’ve got more to prove, but it’s a new year and new baseball to be played,” Crow-Armstrong asserted.

Padres third baseman Manny Machado acknowledges Crow-Armstrong’s remarkable season and budding potential that aligns with his own top-5 finishes. Machado respects Crow-Armstrong’s progress, supporting his drive to elevate his game further.

Manager Craig Counsell appreciates Crow-Armstrong’s growth, highlighting how his talent has surprised even those who expected great things. Counsell described it as a joy to watch Crow-Armstrong demonstrate high-level baseball skills consistently.

As Crow-Armstrong embraced challenges to improve and pivotal moments shaped his season, he catalyzed the Cubs’ top-tier offense. Despite regular-season success, Crow-Armstrong acknowledges the playoffs require different strategies. “Anything can happen,” he noted, emphasizing the blend of treating the postseason as both routine and special.