One of the hopefuls for the World Series, the Chicago Cubs, were eliminated after losing 8–0 and 4–1, respectfully, to the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card Series. The expected NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong specifically struggled in the playoff series, putting up zero hits or runs in his seven at-bats. He also struck out four times.
These offensive lows weren't normal for PCA this season as he tied for the MLB-high of 45 home runs, and ranked fourth in RBIs with 107. He also stole 41 bases in the 2026 season, making him just the seventh MLB player in history to join the 40–40 club. Crow-Armstrong was clearly, and understandably, upset after Wednesday night's elimination game.
He blamed himself for being part of the reason why his team failed to advance in the playoffs. "It feels like we got beat in two games, like bad answer, but none of it feels good, that's it," Crow-Armstrong said. "Just feeling pretty disappointed in myself, but that's for me to work on.
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. That's not for me to feel that right now. I wouldn't process that well if I was." Crow-Armstrong's poor playoff outing won't impact his chances at winning MVP, which would make him the 11th Chicago Cub to win the award.
The outfielder thrived in the regular season, helping his team secure a wild-card spot with an 89–73 record. His star power and electricity this season ignited a fire in Cubs fans once again, something that hasn't fully been seen since the 2016 season when the Cubs won the World Series. Although it is disappointing for Crow-Armstrong and Cubs fans alike that their season is over, the 24-year-old should be proud of what he accomplished this season.
It won't be the last of its kind for him.
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