Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to enhance MVP case with another leadoff home run vs. White Sox
The Chicago Cubs are taking on the Chicago White Sox in the Crosstown Series.
Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong continued to stay hot at the plate on Tuesday night, hitting a lead-off home run for Chicago in the bottom of the first inning. It was not only his 31st home run of the year, but also his second leadoff home run in as many days.
Crow-Armstrong started the home half of the first inning on Monday also with a leadoff home run. He finished the game 4 for 5 with two home runs and four RBI.
His second home run of the night was the game-winner as he launched a 391 ft. walk-off shot to give the Cubs the 7-5 victory. The Chicago outfielder became the first player in 70 years to hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch his team saw and a walk-off home run on the last pitch his team saw in a game.
PCA also made Cubs history by becoming the first player in franchise history to have back-to-back 30-30 seasons.
The Chicago outfielder is putting together an MVP-caliber season. He came into Tuesday’s game against the White Sox slashing .281/.379/.550 with 30 home runs, 78 RBI, and 31 stolen bases.
Crow-Armstrong has a tough test in the MVP race. Shohei Ohtani has won back-to-back National League MVP Awards. Ohtani is having a very good season, but is slightly under the performance we are used to seeing from him, giving PCA a strong chance to win the award with a strong finish to the season.
If Crow-Armstrong is able to win the MVP Award, he would be the first Cubs player to take home the award since third baseman Kris Bryant in 2016. That year, Bryant slashed .292/.385/.554 with 29 home runs and 102 RBI.
