Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong came into the season renowned as an elite defender in center field, along with modest power and stolen base upside. But Crow-Armstrong has exceeded expectations so far, getting off to a torrid start, showcasing improved power with five home runs and a .549 slugging percentage.
This is a player who has done most of his damage to the Dodgers, putting up four home runs and nine RBI against them this season. This has caused the Dodgers to lament how Crow-Armstrong has killed them so far this year. When you combine Crow-Armstrong’s exceptional fielding with an improved bat, you’re suddenly looking at an NL MVP candidate.
Pete Crow-Armstrong: Dark Horse NL MVP Candidate
PCA is casually on pace for a 9.4-fWAR season pic.twitter.com/mUNvEY9NuO
— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) April 23, 2025
Crow-Armstrong has been worth 1.8 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) at Fangraphs. That ranks third in MLB, behind only Aaron Judge and Corbin Carroll. You read that right — Crow-Armstrong has been even more valuable than teammate Kyle Tucker (1.7 WAR).
The major reason for this is the improved bat, featuring an impressive .888 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) to go along with 97th percentile scores or better in each fielding metric at Baseball Savant.
This is now a complete player who can become a star. You can get Crow-Armstrong to win the NL MVP at 90-to-1 odds at DraftKings right now. That means if you placed a $10 wager, you’d win $900 if it hit.
While it’s tough to see Crow-Armstrong maintain such an elite pace throughout the course of a 162-game season, you have to love those (+9000) odds.
Crow-Armstrong: The Dodger Killer
The Cubs’ star outfielder has gotten in the heads of the Dodgers following a dominant performance against them to start the year. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that Crow-Armstrong “has really killed us” following their loss to the Cubs on April 23rd.
Pete Crow-Armstrong has 5 HR this year
4 are against the Dodgers
(via @cubs)pic.twitter.com/INbNHZE6XR
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 24, 2025
This quote not only highlights Crow-Armstrong’s terrific performance but also reflects how the Cubs are a contender in the National League. With Crow-Armstrong’s emergence to join with Kyle Tucker, this is a dangerous team that can make noise in the playoffs.
Look for the Cubs to be aggressive at the trade deadline to help make up for the loss of Justin Steele, who is out for the season. Don’t be surprised if Crow-Armstrong continues to kill the Dodgers in the playoffs.