Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has emerged as a leading candidate for the National League Most Valuable Player award following a marked turnaround during the 2026 Major League Baseball season. After a slow start that saw him hit just one home run in 119 plate appearances through April, Crow-Armstrong significantly improved his performance, posting a .288 batting average with a .386 on-base percentage and .624 slugging percentage, resulting in a 1.009 OPS after late-April.
Crow-Armstrong’s transformation began during a series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, where frustration boiled over after a hitless game, culminating in a three-run homer on April 28 off Padres left-hander Wandy Peralta and a two-run home run the following night against Matt Waldron. This marked the beginning of a sustained offensive surge that helped propel the Cubs into postseason contention.
“It could have been easy to let the year get away from me, but day in and day out there was a regular reminder that it’s a long season,” Crow-Armstrong said, reflecting on his early struggles. He credited the team’s strong play and his focus on incremental improvement for his eventual breakthrough.
The Cubs secured a spot in the National League wild-card series but fell short of earning home-field advantage, opening the postseason Tuesday night with a rematch against the Padres in San Diego. The Cubs will be relying on left-hander Matthew Boyd to control Game 1, while seeking more offensive contributions in challenging weather conditions experienced late in the regular season. Crow-Armstrong, batting leadoff, is expected to lead the charge.
Crow-Armstrong’s rookie postseason in 2025 was underwhelming offensively, producing just five hits in 27 at-bats without any extra-base hits across eight playoff games. This year, however, he enters the postseason as a favorite for MVP honors and is approaching the playoffs with a fresh mindset. “It’s a new year,” he said. “I’ve got some more to prove and some more production to give this club.”
Opposing Padres third baseman Manny Machado, a four-time top-five MVP finisher, acknowledged Crow-Armstrong’s leap this season. “It’s been awesome to see the season he’s had, 40-40, putting that team on his back,” Machado remarked, praising Crow-Armstrong’s continued growth and humility.
Padres Game 1 starter Michael King indicated the significance of Crow-Armstrong’s presence at the top of the Cubs’ lineup and plans to focus on limiting his impact. Crow-Armstrong’s manager, Craig Counsell, noted the player’s rapid improvement and all-around contributions: “It was something to behold watching him play baseball every day—not just in the batter’s box, but everywhere on the field.”
As the Cubs prepare for the postseason, Crow-Armstrong acknowledged the unpredictability of playoff baseball but emphasized the importance of focus and seizing the opportunity. “Anything can happen. I’m looking forward to playing a really good ballclub and getting another crack at them,” he said, underscoring his readiness to lead Chicago’s offense in October.