Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong, now a lock for MVP honors

The Chicago Cubs are still battling for a playoff spot with eleven games left in the regular season.

As things stand right now, they are a half-game up on the Philadelphia Phillies at the top of the National League Wild Card standings and 1.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres, who have the third Wild Card seed.

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If/when they do clinch a playoff berth, though, they will have to rely heavily on their top-rated offense to compensate for a pitching staff that has been inconsistent at best and horrible, at worst.

Leading the way for the Cubs offense, of course, is Pete Crow-Armstrong.

PCA’s all-time great season

Chicago Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong — Jun 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after hitting a walk off RBI single against the Oakland Athletics during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

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The 24-year-old center fielder is in the midst of a monster season that has reached historical heights. Various feats throughout the year have already pushed his name into the rarefied air reserved for some of the sport’s most legendary names.

His 2026 is already putting him near the top of all-time great Cubs seasons, giving him a legitimate shot at surpassing Rogers Hornsby’s fWAR of 11.0 in 1929. In Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves, he hit home run number 42, tying him with Billy Williams for the franchise’s home run record from a left-handed hitter.

In terms of present tense greatness, PCA has become the most potent multi-faceted position player in the game, posting 42 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases—all while playing Gold Glove-level center field.

As of this writing, he’s No. 1 in runs (112), No. 5 in hits (164), No. 6 in triples (7), No. 2 in home runs (42), No. 3 in RBI (102), No.5 in stolen bases (37), No. 11 in on base percentage (.374), No. 2 in slugging (.571), No. 2 in OPS (.945), and No. 1 in WAR (9.3).

M-V-Pete

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs — Jun 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) hits a walk off RBI single against the Oakland Athletics during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

He’s also being considered a lock to take home the NL MVP award.

Per Jesse Yomtov of USA Today:

“The Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong will certainly dethrone Shohei Ohtani for the NL MVP award, snapping Ohtani’s three-year reign that dates back to his final season with the Los Angeles Angels.

With Shohei Ohtani injured this summer, PCA has locked this up as he closes in on the seventh 40-40 season in MLB history. The 24-year-old is putting together one of the greatest years ever, with a 9.3 fWAR while leading the National League in slugging and OPS.”

During this past offseason, Crow-Armstrong inked a 6-year, $115 million contract extension that will keep him in Chicago through the 2032 season. Locked in and secure, he would then get to work on the finer points of his game.

His sudden patience and discipline at the plate is being credited for kicking the rest of his offensive game into high gear. A newfound discerning eye has resulted in him getting better pitches to hit—something he’s fully taken advantage of.

No matter what happens the rest of the way, 2026 will go down as an absolutely stellar season for the young talent—one that ranks among the very best of all-time.

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