Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Chicago Cubs center fielder, has been a recurring problem for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, especially in recent contests. His impact was felt again Wednesday night in the Cubs’ 7-6 win at Wrigley Field, securing a series victory for Chicago.
The Los Angeles native finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run, two stolen bases, and four runs batted in, setting a career high. His performance followed a strong showing the previous night in an 11-10 Chicago victory, where he also homered.
Asked about the added meaning of producing against his former hometown team, Crow-Armstrong said there is indeed a special feeling. He noted the Dodgers' status as a top team and expressed enjoyment in showing the Cubs are competitive.
His offensive outburst this week has been part of a strong overall stretch. Across several recent Dodgers Games, Crow-Armstrong has recorded multiple hits and extra-base hits, becoming a consistent threat. The Dodgers Score in both games this week reflects the challenge the Cubs offense, led by players like Crow-Armstrong, presented.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the challenge Crow-Armstrong poses. He stated the center fielder has “really killed us” and praised the Cubs offense as a whole, noting they are a more confident team.
Beyond his hitting, Crow-Armstrong has consistently made an impact with his defense and baserunning. His speed and ability to track down balls in the outfield have been particularly noticeable.
According to Baseball Savant, Crow-Armstrong ranks at the top of Major League Baseball in Fielding Run Value. He demonstrated this Wednesday by making a difficult running catch in left-center field look routine, a play Statcast estimated had only a 10 percent catch probability.
This week’s success builds on Crow-Armstrong’s overall performance against the Dodgers in seven contests this year, where he is hitting .345 with four home runs and seven RBIs.
As the Dodgers depart Chicago, they will be relieved to not face Crow-Armstrong again in the regular season.
Reflecting on his success against the club he grew up supporting, Crow-Armstrong offered a straightforward assessment.
"Good. That’s what I’m trying to do,” he quipped. “It’s been tough to watch them succeed so much in the last few years.”
