The Chicago Cubs are taking on the Chicago White Sox in the Crosstown Series and Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong continued to stay hot at the plate Tuesday night, hitting a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first inning.
It was his 31st home run of the year and his second leadoff home run in as many days.
Crow-Armstrong finished Monday’s game 4 for 5 with two home runs and four RBI. His second homer was the game-winner as he launched a 391-foot 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 wins the MVP Award, he would be the first Cub to take home the honor since third baseman Kris Bryant in 2016. That year, Bryant slashed .292/.385/.554 with 29 home runs and 102 RBI.