Pete Crow-Armstrong, once hailed as an emerging superstar early in the MLB season, is now facing a challenging postseason. After a stellar start, he has struggled significantly in the second half, currently sitting at 0-for-6 with five strikeouts in the playoffs. While teammate Ian Happ also shares a disappointing performance with an 0-for-8 record, Happ is afforded some leniency thanks to his impressive showing in September.
With the stakes high, this is a crucial moment for Crow-Armstrong to break free from his slump. His opportunities could come through his defensive skills, speed on the bases, or potentially in a pivotal at-bat against Padres starter Yu Darvish. Notably, the Cubs’ left-handed hitters, which include Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, and Michael Busch, have performed well against Darvish this season, boasting an impressive .880 OPS.
The urgency is palpable as the Cubs aim to avoid a dire situation when the Padres’ bullpen becomes a factor. Capitalizing on Darvish’s performance could shift the momentum in favor of the Cubs, allowing them to lessen the pressure from the formidable Padres relievers. The hope is that this key matchup could serve as the catalyst for Crow-Armstrong’s resurgence in the postseason and help reignite the Cubs’ championship aspirations.