Pete Crow-Armstrong has spent the season piling up firsts, and now he’s chasing one more that would stand alone in Cubs history.
If he finishes the 2026 season the way he’s going, the Cubs center fielder could become the first player in franchise history to win MVP unanimously. That’s a list that stretches back 150 years and includes 10 eventual MVP winners - soon to be 11 - but none of them ever swept the vote.
The Cubs’ previous MVPs are Frank Schulte, Rogers Hornsby, Gabby Hartnett, Phil Cavarretta, Hank Sauer, Ernie Banks twice, Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Sammy Sosa and Kris Bryant. Bryant came the closest in 2016, when he took 29 of 30 first-place votes after powering Chicago to 103 regular-season wins and a World Series title. Daniel Murphy of the Washington Nationals was the lone voter to go another direction in what was otherwise a runaway win for Bryant.
That season, Bryant led the league with 7.5 fWAR and 121 runs while hitting .292/.385/.554 with 39 home runs and 102 RBI. Crow-Armstrong’s value, though, has pushed that standard into another gear.
Entering Saturday, Crow-Armstrong sat at 10.7 fWAR, the second-highest total by any player in Cubs history. He was hitting .280/.373/.575 with 45 home runs, 41 stolen bases and 107 RBI, production that has come from every angle - at the plate, on the bases and in the outfield.
The gap between Crow-Armstrong and everyone else has been enormous. Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals is next on the fWAR leaderboard at 6.8, and Fangraphs has Ohtani at 6.8 as well when combining his hitting and pitching. Even then, Crow-Armstrong is still 4.0 wins ahead.
At this point, the season has already crossed into rare territory. The only question left is whether BBWAA voters will treat it that way and give Crow-Armstrong an honor no Cub has ever claimed before.
In Other News...
Boog Sciambis New Job Should Ease One Cubs Fan Fear
Jon Boog Sciambi is adding a new television assignment this season, joining select Minnesota Timberwolves broadcasts in a side role while still keeping his place as the Cubs play-by-play voice. For Cubs fans who have grown accustomed to hearing him on the North Side, the bigger takeaway is that this is not a sign of an impending change at Wrigley Field, but rather another stop for a broadcaster whose range has kept expanding.
Meghan Montemurro reported that Sciambi and the rest of the Cubs TV broadcast team recently had their contracts extended through 2028, which should calm any worry that the extra work is a precursor to a departure. There is still a little scheduling wrinkle ahead, though, with Alex Cohen expected to handle some Cubs telecasts during potential conflicts in 2027, so the booth picture is secure for now but not entirely without movement. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Steele Update Just Shifted The Cubs' Bigger Pitching Picture
Braxton Garrett is back with the Cubs as they head into their final regular-season game, while Gavin Hollowell was optioned to the Arizona Complex League in a roster move that underscored how quickly the club is shifting from the present to the future. The bigger news, though, is what it says about the pitching picture around Justin Steele, whose return has been pushed off as the team continues to sort out arms on the roster.
Chicago has also designated Antoine Kelly for assignment as it keeps reworking the staff with an eye on next season rather than squeezing in a late cameo. The Cubs are clearly choosing caution with Steele, prioritizing his health and readiness for 2027 over any rushed finish this year, which leaves the organization focused on where he fits once the calendar turns again. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Lineup Faces One Early Test That Could Swing Game 1
The Cubs will open the National League Wild Card Round at Petco Park with a familiar October challenge in front of them, and it starts on the mound for San Diego. Padres manager Craig Stammen has confirmed Michael King for Game 1, giving Chicago an early look at a pitcher whose movement-driven approach can make a lineup work for every inch of contact.
For the Cubs, the question is how quickly they can sort out King's sinker and change-up mix and force him into the zone. The matchup puts a premium on discipline and quality at-bats from Chicago's key hitters, because if King gets ahead early and starts leaning on those pitches the way he likes, Game 1 could turn into a long evening for the Cubs' offense. [Read more 🡒]