Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has worked on enhancing his game, focusing on performance against left-handed pitchers. His efforts have paid off, benefiting both him and the Cubs significantly this season.
Before the Cubs’ 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, manager Craig Counsell commented on Crow-Armstrong’s progress. “I think Pete’s improvement against left-handed pitching is significant as to one of the reasons why we’ve improved (against left-handed pitchers),” he stated. “Overall, we’ve done a nice job against left-handed pitchers.”
In the series finale against the Cardinals, Crow-Armstrong went 1-for-2 and was hit by a pitch from left-hander Matthew Liberatore. The Cubs started strong, gaining a two-run lead in the first inning due to Liberatore’s difficulties in command, which included a walk and hitting two batters.
The Cubs have excelled against left-handers this season, achieving a .776 OPS, ranking second in the major leagues. Crow-Armstrong’s development has been crucial, as he is hitting a career-best .286 with a .922 OPS against left-handers, a significant increase from the 2025 season’s .188 and .594 marks.
Notably, Crow-Armstrong has adjusted his plate approach by standing closer, enhancing his discipline. According to Baseball Savant, he reduced his distance from the plate from 26.9 inches last year to 23.7 inches in recent months. Though this exposes him to inside pitches, Crow-Armstrong credits the change for improved plate coverage.
“Wierdly enough, getting on the dish has made me feel like I have more time to cover all parts of the plate against those guys,” Crow-Armstrong noted. This season, he’s been hit by pitches from left-handers six times, double the count from 2025.
June proved fruitful for Crow-Armstrong, as he earned National League player of the month honors by achieving a .381 average with 11 home runs, 20 RBIs, and eight stolen bases.
“I know I’m capable of this level of production,” he said. “It’s about consistently trying to replicate that and help the team.” Recognized as an All-Star for the second year, he commented, “It really means a lot.”
The two-run early lead provided relief for Cubs starter Javier Assad, who, after a challenging second inning, retired 10 consecutive batters. Assad ended his day with 4 2/3 scoreless innings, conceding only two hits.
“You just try to attack the zone,” Assad explained. “Catcher Carson Kelly did a great job calling pitches. Everything worked well from the changeup to the fastball.” Although the bullpen faced challenges, notably from Jordan Walker’s three-run homer, the Cubs capitalized on Cardinals’ errors for a comeback win.
Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson’s grounder led to a costly throw from Cardinals’ José Fermín, which opened the way for scoring. Pinch-hitter Pedro Ramírez’s sacrifice fly further exploited errors, bringing more runs home.
Counsell remarked, “There was contact and they made some mistakes, but the ball has to be in play for mistakes to happen. We took advantage of them for a big inning.”
In other news, Jameson Taillon made strides in his rehab, allowing one run on four hits in 3 1/3 innings with High-A South Bend on Sunday, offering hopeful signs for the team.
Reporter Andy Martinez contributed to this article.
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