Pete Crow-Armstrong Takes Blame for Cubs' Wild Card Exit

Pete Crow-Armstrong, whose season was highlighted by a historic 40-40 season and a 9.8 WAR that positions him as an MVP frontrunner, admitted his own shortcomings contributed to the Chicago Cubs' swift exit from the postseason. The Cubs were swept by the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card Series.

Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-7 with four strikeouts over the two games. He struck out three times in Game 1 and went hitless in four at-bats in Game 2, which ended in a 4-1 loss for Chicago.

"We were challenged this year," Crow-Armstrong stated, per The Athletic. "This team showed a lot of heart and a lot of fight through all the challenges. But I would say, to start: I show up. I show up when it matters in these games. That would help us immediately. But that’s all I got right now."

The 24-year-old outfielder acknowledged his offensive struggles, particularly his performance in critical situations. In Game 2, with runners on base and the Cubs trailing by two runs in the third inning, Crow-Armstrong popped out, ending a potential rally. He also struck out looking to end the first inning.

This postseason disappointment follows a similar pattern from the previous year's playoffs, where Crow-Armstrong hit .185 with no extra-base hits and three RBIs in eight games.

"You can look at the scoreboard, you can look at the stat sheet, wherever you get your numbers from, and it is clear to see that I didn’t contribute," Crow-Armstrong said.

Crow-Armstrong, acquired by the Cubs in a 2021 trade, signed a six-year, $115 million contract extension earlier this season. The deal, which begins next season, has the potential to be a significant bargain for the team if Crow-Armstrong can elevate his playoff performance in the future. However, the team's aspirations for a deep postseason run will likely depend on more consistent contributions from their star player in high-stakes games.