Chicago Cubs superstar center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong set yet another record Sunday, hitting his 45th homer of the season in a win over the Cincinnati Reds. His 45 homers are the most in a single season by a Cubs player since Dereck Lee hit 46 in the 2005 season. Crow-Armstrong is the current MVP favorite, and with just six games remaining in the regular season, he's a shoo-in for the National League MVP award amid Shohei Ohtani's injury struggles.
The outfielder is in just his fourth year of MLB service, but is putting together an All-Time season. He has 9.6 BWAR, leading the rest of the league by a wide margin, and his 45 homers tie him for the MLB lead. Additionally, his .949 OPS leads the National league.
Crow-Armstrong's defense in center field is unparalleled, as his plus-27 fielding run value and 26 outs above average both rank as the best in MLB. Crow-Armstrong's season is incredibly impressive, but he got off to a slow start in 2026. Midway through May, the superstar had just a 93 wRC+ and hit just five homers through 46 games, during which he posted a .693 OPS.
Since then, though, he has comfortably been the best player in baseball. He has a 182 wRC+ since May 16, which is the best in baseball, and has a 1.051 OPS during that timeframe. Thanks in part to Crow-Armstrong's successes, the Cubs have a postseason spot under their control, and will play in the Wild Card round for a second consecutive season.
Their opponent is yet to be determined, though, as just one game separates the first and third spots in the Wild Card. Winning out is crucial for the Cubs' success in the postseason, as they want to guarantee home field advantage during their series against either the Philadelphia Phillies or the San Diego Padres, who they beat in last year's Wild Card round. Their next two series come against the Miami Marlins, who are out of postseason contention, and the Boston Red Sox, who secured their spot in the postseason Sunday, with the first of those two series beginning Tuesday at 6:40 p.m.
CDT against their NL East opponents.
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