The Cubs need a spark to come from their rising star

It is no secret that the National League Central has been the toughest division in all of Major League Baseball in 2026. A few weeks ago, the Chicago Cubs had a tight grasp of the lead, but now, the Milwaukee Brewers are at the top of the standings. 

This is thanks to some lackluster performances by key players, and for the Cubs, one player stands out like a sore thumb. That would be center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. 

Manny Randhawa of MLB.com reported that PCA is one of the players the Cubs desperately need to turn things around in June, and they are completely right. It has not been a kind campaign for No. 4, and this club is feeling the effects. 

Currently slashing at .237/.325/.388, it has been a strange season for him thus far. But his WAR is the highest among position players for the Cubs, at 2.8, which is higher than Nico Hoerner's 2.0. Through 60 games, he has struck out at a career-high pace, as he is projected to be sat down 173 times by the end of the season. 

Not ideal. 

After losing two out of three to the St. Louis Cardinals, nearly every team in the division is either 5 or 6 games back of the Brewers. If the Cubs want to make it back into the fold for the NL Central title, or at least a chance to fight for a wildcard berth, Crow-Armstrong is going to have to be the catalyst of the charge. 

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