Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong: Key to Success Against Left-Handers

Chicago Cubs’ center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has been on a mission to elevate his game, focusing on improving his performance against left-handed pitchers. This dedication has significantly benefited both him and the Cubs this season.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell highlighted Crow-Armstrong’s improvement against left-handers as a crucial factor in the team’s enhanced performance in this area. Before their 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, Counsell emphasized the overall team effort: “We’ve done a nice job against left-handed pitchers,” he stated.

In Sunday’s game, Crow-Armstrong went 1-for-2 with a hit by pitch against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore. The Cubs quickly established a two-run lead in the first inning, helped by Liberatore’s command issues, including one walk and two hit batters. Presently, the Cubs rank among the top teams against left-handers, with a .776 OPS, the second-best in the major leagues.

The center fielder’s performance against same-sided pitchers stands out. He currently achieves a career-high .286 batting average and .922 OPS against left-handers, a notable rise from his .188 average and .594 OPS in 2025. This improvement stems from him adjusting his position at the plate, allowing better pitch selection.

“His ball-strike discipline against left-handed pitching has been consistent throughout the year,” Counsell explained. Moving closer to the plate early in the season has helped him make better swing decisions.

Baseball Savant data shows Crow-Armstrong’s proximity to the plate has gradually decreased from 27 inches in April to 23.7 inches in June and early July. Though this adjustment leaves him vulnerable to inside pitches, as demonstrated when he was hit on the forearm by Liberatore’s 93.8 mph sinker, he remains undeterred. This season, left-handed pitchers have hit him six times, double the occurrences in 2025.

“Weirdly enough, being on the dish gives me more time to cover all parts of the plate against those guys,” Crow-Armstrong remarked, acknowledging the importance of this change to his success.

This increase in hits against left-handers amplifies Crow-Armstrong’s growing potential. Recently, he earned the title of National League Player of the Month for June, batting .381 with 11 home runs, 20 RBIs, and eight stolen bases.

“I’m excited to keep finding out what I’m capable of for this team,” Crow-Armstrong expressed, full of optimism.

Pitcher Javier Assad, benefiting from the Cubs’ early lead, managed a solid 4 2/3 scoreless innings, conceding just two hits, two walks, and two strikeouts. After a challenging second inning, Assad was able to retire 10 consecutive Cardinals. His effective pitch variety includes changeups, curveballs, sinkers, and fastballs.

Despite facing trouble in the sixth with a three-run homer from Jordan Walker, the Cubs capitalized on Cardinals’ errors in the bottom of the inning. A poor throw from José Fermín allowed the Cubs to retake the lead, scoring Michael Busch and advancing the runners. Pedro Ramírez’s sacrifice fly further extended the Cubs’ advantage, added by another errant throw from Walker.

“We took advantage of some mistakes for a big inning. Sometimes you get breaks, and today was one of those times,” Counsell noted after the match.

On the pitching front, Jameson Taillon, recovering from a left hamstring injury, completed a rehab game with High-A South Bend, allowing one run in 3 1/3 innings on Sunday. Manager Counsell viewed this as a positive step forward.

Report by Andy Martinez for the Chicago Tribune.