Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong Shines in Victory Against Pirates

PITTSBURGH — Chicago Cubs fans started chanting “M-V-P” as Pete Crow-Armstrong crossed home plate. Crow-Armstrong had launched a two-run homer into the right-field seats during the seventh inning, adding to a remarkable four-hit night in the Cubs’ commanding 11-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Left-hander Shota Imanaga kept the Pirates at bay by pitching six shutout innings. Crow-Armstrong excelled in front of the largest crowd at PNC Park since 2024.

“Any time you give fans something to cheer about, it means you’re doing something right,” Crow-Armstrong said. “Hearing fans cheer loudly in an opposing stadium is great.”

He concluded with three extra-base hits, including his 23rd home run, and three RBIs. He twice bested Pirates ace Paul Skenes, especially with a go-ahead RBI double in the fifth inning.

This sequence highlighted a contest between two top players. Earlier, Crow-Armstrong had been frozen by a full-count fastball from Skenes during his second at-bat. Later, Crow-Armstrong adapted to changeups and sent one flying to center field for an RBI double.

“I love facing Paul; he’s a great competitor,” Crow-Armstrong said. “Being in the same clubhouse as him during the World Baseball Classic was an excellent experience.”

Crow-Armstrong’s season success partly results from not letting poor at-bats affect him. He committed to staying prepared for upcoming pitches, enabling the adjustment for the changeup converted to the RBI double.

“Buying into our team’s identity has helped me personally,” Crow-Armstrong said. “Managing emotions is crucial for moving on. It’s not just playing defense, it’s processing it and competing.”

With August approaching, Crow-Armstrong stands firmly in the National League MVP race. After Saturday’s performance, he became the first MLB player to reach 7.0 fWAR this season, improving his slash line to .291/.390/.544 and a 156 wRC+. With Shohei Ohtani’s pitching on hold, Crow-Armstrong has a solid chance for MVP if he maintains his offense.

“He’s got a lot of confidence now,” manager Craig Counsell noted. “Previously, he was more aggressive, but now he’s got the right balance.”

The Cubs haven’t seen an MVP since Kris Bryant in 2016. Crow-Armstrong is on track to achieve over 10.0 WAR, a feat only 26 players have accomplished in MLB history. This milestone hasn’t been reached by a National League player since Barry Bonds in 2004. Several Cubs legends have hit this mark, like Sammy Sosa, Ernie Banks, and Rogers Hornsby.

Crow-Armstrong could wrap up one of the best seasons in Cubs history by September’s end.