LOS ANGELES — Four hours before recording his second career multi-home run game, Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong conceded he was grinding through the last week.
Crow-Armstrong entered Sunday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers hitting .194 with a .242 on-base percentage in his last eight games. He was one of the only Cubs who wasn’t able to tee off on the Dodgers in Saturday’s 16-0 blowout win, his lone hit in six at-bats coming off position player Miguel Rojas. A bright spot in this tough stretch: four stolen bases and five runs scored.
“I’m understanding that that’s how this goes, and I was ready for something like this,” Crow-Armstrong said pregame. “So I guess what stands out at all is just the fact that when I’m getting on base, I’m making stuff happen, to say the least. But I think the most obvious thing is that the boys are banging. So if anything, I don’t feel any pressure to catch up. If we’re going to win ball games like we did (Saturday) night, and we’re going to keep taking two of the three, then I’m just excited to jump on the train whenever that happens.”
His perspective proved prophetic.
Crow-Armstrong’s two solo home runs and triple propelled the Cubs to a 4-2 victory over the Dodgers to secure their fourth consecutive series win. Michael Busch slugged a home run for a second straight day as five of the eight hits by the Cubs (11-7) went for extra bases. Right-hander Colin Rea delivered a solid outing, limiting the Dodgers to one run in 3 2/3 innings in his first start in Justin Steele’s rotation spot following the news Sunday that the lefty will be undergoing season-ending surgery on his elbow.
Crow-Armstrong’s two-home run game comes on the heels of initial conversations between the Cubs and the 23-year-old’s representation that would ensure he is part of the franchise’s long-term plans. The preliminary talks were first reported by MLB.com.
Crow-Armstrong said before Sunday’s series finale, “that’s something I’d absolutely love to do,” adding that president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins know that.
“I would obviously love to do it here, so it’s all just a big old compliment,” Crow-Armstrong said. “They’ve been nothing but really complimentary of who I am and what I mean to the organization, but that goes both ways, and I’ve appreciated them both throughout this whole situation.
“The communication’s been really great throughout all levels of this conversation, but there’s been a general understanding and a general consensus that we’re not going to let it be a distraction throughout this year because I’m here to play baseball.”
As for where things stand on a long-term contract with the Cubs, Crow-Armstrong replied, “that we weren’t going to let it be a distraction. We’re going to play baseball this year. Simple as that.”
Locking Crow-Armstrong, who is under team control through the 2030 season, into a long-term deal makes a lot of sense from the Cubs’ perspective. It gives them cost certainty with a high-upside all-around player who hasn’t fully tapped into his offensive potential by buying out his arbitration years and potentially a year or two of free agency. For Crow-Armstrong, it could allow him to be compensated while still giving him a chance to become a free agent and cash in again if he continues to improve as both sides envision.
“It’s a great compliment, and it’s definitely a testament to work on putting in,” Crow-Armstrong said of the team’s interest. “But I think it’s clear that I want to win baseball games here specifically, so I’m glad that they see that and see that in me. It means a lot.”
For now, the Cubs are rolling even as Crow-Armstrong gets off to a slow start at the plate. A hometown game at Dodger Stadium in front of family and friends brought out his best. Crow-Armstrong blew a kiss to his parents behind home plate after rounding the bases following his go-ahead home run in the seventh.
“To have a game where you’re kind of the guy that drives the bus offensively, so to speak, that’s a really good thing and great for your confidence,” manager Craig Counsell said.
Crow-Armstrong credited teammates, including Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ, for helping him work through an offensive start to the season that hasn’t gone the way he envisioned.
“They’ve all been in my ear the last couple weeks, but that definitely just gives you that little extra bit of conviction to go out there and just try and produce when you feel everybody backing you up,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I mean, I’m prepared to go 0-for-4 tomorrow and go play defense, and I’m prepared to go 4-for-4 and go play defense, so yeah, it’s nice to be able to stay in a fight with a really good group of guys who definitely got my back and vice versa.”
