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Pete Crow-Armstrong stats
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit three home runs in a 17-5 Cubs win over the Reds. He leads MLB in WAR, making him a top NL MVP contender.
Background
Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs' center fielder, is having a breakout season with 33 home runs and 32 stolen bases, a 30-30 season. His elite defense and strong offensive numbers have made him a leading candidate for the National League MVP award, competing with Shohei Ohtani. The MVP race has drawn attention because of the contrast between Ohtani's two-way play and Crow-Armstrong's all-around excellence.
How it unfolded
- Aug 26, 2026CBS Sports experts publish hypothetical MVP votes, with Crow-Armstrong leading due to his WAR advantage over Ohtani.
- Aug 27, 2026Crow-Armstrong nearly gets ejected in a game against the Diamondbacks, showing his emotional style of play.
- Aug 29, 2026Crow-Armstrong hits three home runs in a 17-5 win over the Reds, his first career 3-HR game, and says Sammy Sosa predicted it.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Crow-Armstrong's defensive value and WAR lead make him the MVP frontrunner, according to CBS Sports experts.
- Support
- Cubs fans and teammates love Crow-Armstrong's passion and performance, calling him one of the faces of baseball.
- Caution
- Some argue Ohtani's unique two-way ability (pitching and hitting) should still win him the MVP, despite his injuries.
Still unverified
Sammy Sosa's prediction of three home runs is a claim by Crow-Armstrong, not independently verified.