Pete Crow-Armstrong’s struggles are becoming impossible for Cubs to ignore

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May 21, 2026 - 11:35

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Pete Crow-Armstrong’s struggles are becoming impossible for Cubs to ignore originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Cubs are suddenly dealing with something that looked unthinkable just a couple of weeks ago: real turbulence.

After ripping off 10 straight wins earlier this month, Chicago has now dropped nine of its last 11 games, including a sweep at the hands of the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers. Slumps happen over a 162-game season, but what makes this stretch feel different is that some of the Cubs’ most reliable players are now showing cracks. None has stood out more than center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

The 24-year-old entered the season viewed as one of the premier defensive outfielders in baseball after winning a Gold Glove and earning his first All-Star nod in 2025. His range, instincts and confidence in center field helped define Chicago’s identity. That is why the past two games have felt so jarring.

Against Milwaukee on Tuesday, Crow-Armstrong dropped a routine fly ball that immediately put pressure on the Cubs’ pitching staff. One night later, things got even worse when a ground ball slipped under his glove and quickly turned into a damaging Brewers rally. For a player who had committed only five errors across 288 career games in center field entering this stretch, the mistakes looked completely out of character.

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Pete Crow-Armstrong isn’t hiding from the moment

What stood out most after Wednesday’s loss was that Crow-Armstrong did not try to deflect blame or soften the criticism.

“Yesterday and today are genuinely laughable,” he said afterward, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.

That honesty probably resonates inside the Cubs clubhouse because everyone watching can see the frustration building. Crow-Armstrong has built his reputation on energy, swagger and elite defense. When those things disappear, even briefly, it becomes noticeable immediately. The bigger issue for Chicago is that the defensive mistakes are arriving at the same time his bat has cooled off.

After going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on Wednesday, Crow-Armstrong’s batting average dipped to .225 on the season. He has five home runs and 20 RBIs, but the overall offensive consistency has not been there nearly enough for a player the Cubs increasingly rely on near the top of the lineup.

Cubs need their identity player to rebound quickly

This is where things get interesting for Chicago moving forward. Crow-Armstrong is not just another everyday player on this roster. He represents the style the Cubs want to play. Athletic defense, aggressive baserunning and momentum-changing plays in the field are all part of what makes Chicago dangerous when things are clicking.

When he struggles defensively, it changes the feel of the entire team. The timing also matters. The Cubs now return home for a difficult series against the Houston Astros, and the pressure is beginning to rise after what looked like a comfortable early-season position in the National League standings.

One rough stretch does not erase everything Crow-Armstrong has already proven at the major league level. Elite defenders go through difficult moments too. But because his glove is such a massive part of his value, these mistakes naturally attract more attention than they would for most players. The Cubs desperately need Thursday’s off day to reset mentally. And they especially need Crow-Armstrong looking like himself again by Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.