Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong drops somber take on early playoffs exit

Entering the playoffs, the Chicago Cubs were expected to be led by their offense. But those plans didn’t come to fruition as they were outscored 12-1 by the San Diego Padres, getting swept out of the Wild Card Series.

One of Chicago’s biggest culprits was Pete-Crow Armstrong. He is the favorite to win NL MVP after hitting .280 with an MLB-leading 45 home runs, 107 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. However, the version of Crow-Armstrong wasn’t visible in the playoffs.

The outfielder didn’t record a hit through his eight plate appearances over the two games. He did steal a base, but Crow-Armstrong struck out in over half (four) of his at-bats.

Needless to say, it wasn’t the performance the Cubs superstar was hoping for. But Crow-Armstrong isn’t shying away from criticism.

Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong gets brutally honest

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs — Aug 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after striking out against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Seeing the Cubs’ season end the way it did, Crow-Armstrong wasn’t in the best of mood after the game. Especially with how had played. The likely MVP made it clear he wasn’t happy with his 2026 playoff performance, via the Marquee Sports Network, h/t Cubs Zone.

“You can look at the scoreboard, you can look at the stat sheet, wherever you get your stats from and it is clear to see that I didn’t contribute,” Crow-Armstrong said.

Pete Crow-Armstrong reflects after losing in NL Wild Card:

“You can look at the scoreboard, you can look at the stat sheet, wherever you get your stats from and it is clear to see that I didn’t contribute.” pic.twitter.com/0KcwGdvvXH

— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) October 1, 2026

Crow-Armstrong’s regular season won’t be forgotten anytime soon. He’ll still be heralded as one of the best hitters in baseball entering the 2027 campaign. Still, the outfielder’s ultimate goal is helping the Cubs lift a World Series title. With his offensive spark running out, Crow-Armstrong wasn’t able to contribute to that goal against the Padres.

He’ll now have the entire offseason to think about how Chicago’s season ended. Furthermore, he now has firsthand experience understanding when things don’t go right in the most crucial moments.

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