Pete Crow-Armstrong Shines as Cubs Dominate Pirates

Chicago Cubs fans roared with chants of ‘M-V-P’ as Pete Crow-Armstrong crossed home plate Saturday night. He had just hit a two-run home run to the right-field seats in the seventh inning, rounding off a four-hit performance that led the Cubs to an 11-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Left-hander Shota Imanaga controlled the game, throwing six scoreless innings, leaving no room for a Pirates comeback.

The game took place at PNC Park, drawing the largest crowd since 2024. Crow-Armstrong’s performance captivated the audience. Whether at Wrigley Field or away, his plays draw cheers. “Any time you can give people something to cheer about, chant about, just get behind us usually means you’re doing something right,” Crow-Armstrong expressed. Crow-Armstrong completed the night with three extra-base hits, including his 23rd home run, and three RBIs. Notably, he twice outmatched Pirates ace Paul Skenes, delivering a go-ahead RBI double in the fifth inning.

“Any time you can give people something to cheer about, chant about, just get behind us usually means you’re doing something right,” Crow-Armstrong said. “Hearing people cheer for you so loudly in an opposing stadium, it’s great.”

Skenes had struck Crow-Armstrong out in a previous at-bat with a fastball. This time, Crow-Armstrong anticipated changeups and hit a changeup located down and away to the center-field wall. “I love facing Paul,” Crow-Armstrong remarked, noting their competitive spirit and shared history at the World Baseball Classic. He emphasized that overcoming past mistakes in at-bats and adapting to the situation is a key to his success.

Looking at the bigger picture, Crow-Armstrong explained that focusing on the team identity has helped improve his performance. “It’s just how big you let your emotions get. I feel like for me that usually limits me from moving on like that,” he stated, underscoring the importance of mental adjustments.

As August approaches, Crow-Armstrong is emerging as a serious contender for the National League MVP. His performance against the Pirates brought his season fWAR to 7.0. His slash line improved to .291/.390/.544 with a 156 wRC+. With Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s pitching on hold due to a knee issue, Crow-Armstrong could strengthen his MVP case as long as his offensive performance continues.

“He’s got a lot of confidence right now,” manager Craig Counsell said, recognizing Crow-Armstrong’s control over his swing and pitch choices. “That makes you the right kind of aggressive.”

The Cubs haven’t had an MVP since Kris Bryant in 2016. Crow-Armstrong is on track to achieve a WAR above 10.0, a milestone reached by only 26 players in MLB history. If Crow-Armstrong maintains his current pace, he could deliver one of the best individual seasons in Cubs history.