Pete Crow‑Armstrong’s 3‑HR Wrigley Clinic Supercharges NL MVP Race

Crow‑Armstrong opened the scoring with a leadoff homer, followed by two more long balls that finished as his first career three‑home‑run game. He finished with four hits and 13 total bases, a combination of power and contact that pushed an already gaudy season line even higher. Sammy Sosa — and a roll call of Cubs greats in town for the anniversary — watched from the stadium; according to MLB’s report, Sosa even told Crow‑Armstrong before the game that he wanted three dingers, a prediction that came true.

MLB’s recap placed Crow‑Armstrong’s season WAR at 9.1 after the game, while independent coverage noted he led the majors in WAR entering Saturday. Those numbers capture why this afternoon matters beyond the stat line: Crow‑Armstrong is accumulating value at a rate that places him among the best single‑season campaigns in Cubs history.

Through the first three months of play voters were weighing two very different resumes: Shohei Ohtani’s unicorn two‑way production versus Crow‑Armstrong’s blend of elite defense, speed and growing offensive muscle. A three‑home‑run, six‑RBI day — especially in front of a high‑profile crowd and with the WAR bump to show for it — reframes the narrative. Crow‑Armstrong’s season is now easier to describe as a full‑package, year‑long contribution rather than a string of eye‑popping moments.

That said, unresolved items remain. Ohtani’s recent pitching setback (reported prior to the Cubs game) could be temporary or season‑altering; how voters weight the durability and availability of a two‑way star versus the steady accumulation of WAR by an everyday center fielder is inherently subjective. Voters will also note context: the late innings featured a position player on the mound for Cincinnati, which tempers a chase for a fourth homer and affects how one single game is parsed.

Crow‑Armstrong’s Wrigley clinic was both historic and consequential. It didn’t decide the NL MVP race, but it changed the conversation: it quantified a season of all‑around excellence with eye‑catching evidence and made the statistical case (via WAR and counting stats) that he belongs at — or very near — the top of the ballot. Between now and the end of the regular season, the job for Crow‑Armstrong is straightforward: keep producing. For voters, the job is harder — decide whether a dazzling three‑month run of two‑way heroics or a steady barrage of everyday value is the truer MVP.