Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is positioning himself as a frontrunner in the National League MVP race, building on a breakout 2026 season marked by exceptional offensive and defensive performance. With a 7.5 wins above replacement according to Baseball-Reference, Crow-Armstrong holds a significant statistical edge over fellow contender Shohei Ohtani’s 6.4 mark. The 24-year-old has particularly excelled in the second half, posting a .965 on-base plus slugging percentage across 25 games since the All-Star break while recording six stolen bases.
Crow-Armstrong’s resurgence this season follows a disappointing 2025 campaign when an August slump derailed his MVP hopes and contributed to the Cubs’ division slide. This year, he has intentionally adopted a more measured approach to avoid similar struggles, focusing on smaller daily accomplishments rather than fixating on overall results. His improved plate discipline is evident through a nearly tripled walk rate, increasing from 4.5 percent to 12.1 percent. Additionally, he has demonstrated elite defensive prowess, leading all major leaguers with 22 outs above average in center field.
The Cubs themselves have capitalized on Crow-Armstrong’s success and recent deadline acquisitions, narrowing the gap with division-leading Milwaukee to just three games. Teammate Alex Bregman has publicly endorsed Crow-Armstrong’s MVP candidacy, praising his all-around excellence. Though Crow-Armstrong remains humble about the award speculation, his exceptional production across all statistical categories makes a compelling case for his recognition as the league’s most valuable player.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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