Full Breakdown
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Historic 2026 Campaign Propels Cubs Toward Postseason
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Record-Setting Power and MVP Momentum
On a Sunday at Great American Ball Park, Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 45th home run of the 2026 season, tying the major-league lead and setting a new single-season mark for a Cubs player since Dereck Lee’s 46 homers in 2005. The blast helped Chicago beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-1 and reduced the club’s magic number to one for a postseason berth. Crow-Armstrong’s .949 OPS leads the National League, and his plus-27 fielding-run value ranks first among all MLB players.
Background & Context – Season Turnaround and Playoff Position
Crow-Armstrong entered the season slowly, posting a 93 wRC+ and five homers through his first 46 games. Beginning on May 16, he posted a 182 wRC+ and a 1.051 OPS, the best figures in baseball over that span. The surge has kept the Cubs in control of their destiny; with one game left to clinch a wild-card spot, the team holds tiebreakers over the Diamondbacks, Padres and Phillies and can secure home-field advantage by winning out.
Data & Statistics – Numbers Defining the Season
- Home runs: 45 (tied MLB lead)
- OPS: .949 (NL leader)
- wRC+: 182 since May 16 (league best)
- bWAR: 9.6 (league-wide lead)
- Fielding runs above average: +27, 26 outs above average (MLB best)
- RBIs: 107
- Stolen bases: 38 (two short of a 40-40 season)
- Extra-base hits: 30 doubles, 8 triples, 25-year-old’s 45 homers
Official Statements & Responses – League and Player Commentary
Sports Illustrated notes that, with a week remaining, Crow-Armstrong is “extremely likely” to be named the National League Most Valuable Player. The outlet also records that Shohei Ohtani, the only other NL player to comment publicly on the award race, has been on the Injured List and has not pitched since July 3. Cubs management has not announced a starter for the upcoming series against the Miami Marlins, but the club’s reduced magic number underscores the urgency of the final games.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There were only four players in baseball history who hit 40 homers and stole 40 bases in a season before 2023: Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano,” — Bob Nightengale, of USA Today Sports
What’s Next – Final Week Stakes and the 40-40 Possibility
The Cubs open a two-game series against the Marlins on Tuesday, with the outcome directly affecting home-field advantage in the wild-card round. Crow-Armstrong needs two additional steals to join the exclusive 40-40 club, a feat previously achieved by only six players (Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodríguez, Alfonso Soriano, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Shohei Ohtani). If he records those steals before the season concludes, he will add his name to that historic list.