Pete Crow-Armstrong Powers Cubs to Blowout Win With Three-Homer Performance

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered one of the most dominant offensive performances of the 2026 season on Thursday, hitting three home runs to lead his team to a 17-5 demolition of the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field.

Crow-Armstrong, who is locked in a tight National League MVP race with Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, went 4-for-5 at the plate with six RBI in what was his first career three-homer game. The 23-year-old center fielder launched his trio of long balls across multiple innings, capping the performance with a towering three-run shot in the seventh inning that put an exclamation point on the Cubs' offensive explosion.

"I would be crazy to say I don't want to win an MVP," Crow-Armstrong told reporters after the Cubs swept the Dodgers earlier this month, and Thursday's performance only strengthened his case. The California native, known by his initials "PCA," has been drawing comparisons to Chicago sports legends this season, with some fans likening his impact to former Bulls star Derrick Rose's memorable MVP campaign.

Cubs Offense Erupts for Seventeen Runs

The Cubs' 17-5 victory marked their most lopsided win of the season and improved their record to 77-59, keeping them firmly in the National League playoff picture. Chicago's offense was relentless throughout the afternoon, piling up runs across multiple innings against a beleaguered Reds pitching staff that has struggled down the stretch.

Cincinnati fell to 64-72 with the loss, continuing a disappointing second half that has seen the Reds fade from postseason contention. The Reds' pitchers had no answer for Crow-Armstrong, who connected on fastballs and breaking pitches alike as he put on a power display that electrified the Wrigley Field crowd.

The performance was particularly significant given the timing—late August games often carry playoff implications, and Crow-Armstrong's ability to deliver in meaningful moments has been a hallmark of his MVP candidacy. His defensive prowess in center field, combined with his two-way excellence at the plate, has made him arguably the best two-way position player in baseball this season.

MVP Race Heats Up

Crow-Armstrong's three-homer performance comes at a critical juncture in the MVP race. While Ohtani's unprecedented two-way excellence as both a dominant pitcher and feared slugger has captured headlines, Crow-Armstrong has quietly assembled an MVP-caliber season of his own. His combination of elite defense, speed, and emerging power has drawn praise from around the league.

Earlier this month, when the Cubs swept the Dodgers in a three-game series at Wrigley Field, Crow-Armstrong went head-to-head with Ohtani and held his own, helping Chicago to a 7-6 victory in the series finale. That performance prompted conversations about whether a two-way position player could challenge Ohtani's unique skill set, and Thursday's outburst provided a resounding answer.

As a kid growing up in California, Crow-Armstrong was a fan of Derrick Rose and even pitched in youth baseball, though he's since focused exclusively on his outfield and hitting prowess. His emergence as an MVP candidate has energized a Cubs fanbase that hasn't seen a homegrown star of this magnitude since the franchise's 2016 World Series championship run.

Looking Ahead

With just over a month remaining in the regular season, every game carries heightened importance for both the Cubs' playoff push and the individual awards races. Crow-Armstrong will look to build on this career-defining performance as Chicago battles for positioning in the crowded National League playoff picture.

The Cubs have thirty games remaining on their schedule, and if Crow-Armstrong can maintain anything close to Thursday's production, he'll give MVP voters plenty to consider when ballots are cast in November. For now, Cubs fans are simply enjoying watching one of baseball's brightest young stars put on a show at the Friendly Confines.

The Reds and Cubs will conclude their series on Friday night before both teams head into the final stretch of the regular season.