Good morning, Bleacher Nation.
I dedicate these bullets, of July 26, 2026, to Peter Henry Crow-Armstrong.
No joke, these bullets are, in large part, going to try to encapsulate the surging superstardom of PCA and his magnificent case for NL MVP. So let’s get to it.
After a 4-for-5 night with two doubles and a home run in the Cubs’ 11-0 win against Paul Skenes and the Pirates, social media was more alive with praise, facts, and figures regarding PCA than I had ever seen before. There have been many afternoons and evenings with plenty of PCA content on the social medias, but last night was different. And if you allowed yourself the time to be a sponge and take it all in, then it became obvious that many more people than just us Cubs fans have been awakened and are left with no choice but to acknowledge the superstardom of our 24-year-old center fielder. Most notably, among many notable things about PCA that came after the game, is that he’s now on pace for more than 10 fWAR this season after eclipsing 7 fWAR courtesy of last night’s performance. And the company he’ll share should he, in fact, stay on pace and reach 10 fWAR is nothing short of legendary.PCA is on pace for a 10 WAR season at 24 years old.The list of players that have done thatMike trout Mickey mantleLou GehrigTy CobbWillie MaysArodTed WilliamsJimmie foxxCal Ripken Tris speaker Incredible.
— Rich Bishop (@11Bishop11) July 26, 2026 When PCA reaches 8.0 fWAR he’ll become one of just eight Cubs in franchise history to hit that number. Shoot, him reaching 7 fWAR last night made him just the third position player in baseball since 2010 to have done so by July 25 or earlier. Who are the other two guys on that list, you ask? Mike Trout (2018) and Aaron Judge (2025)! Regarding another franchise-related stat and PCA, he became the first Cubs player last night with 200 RBI and 90 stolen bases before turning 25. And on another, somewhat related stat, he became just the third player all-time to reach 25 stolen bases, 22 home runs and five triples prior to August, joining Davey Lopes (1979) and Ken Williams (1922). Comparisons to Kris Bryant’s 2016 MVP season were also scattered across baseball social media after the beatdown of the Bucs. Through 103 games this season, PCA has a .285 batting average, 109 hits, 22 home runs, and a .913 OPS. Through 103 games of his 2016 MVP season, Kris Bryant had a .282 batting average, 112 hits, 26 home runs, and a .920 OPS. There’s also PCA’s surface of the sun-level hot streak within the larger streak of when he turned his season around after a slow start. That surface of the sun-level hot streak includes his last 45 games, and the company he’s in is nothing but All-Stars.Pete Crow-Armstrong's last 45 games: .358/.467/.728 (1.195 OPS), 16 HR, 13 SB.The full list with 16+ HR, 13+ SB, .350+ BA, 1.100+ OPS over any 45-game stretch within a season: Chipper in 1999Trout in 2012Mookie in 2018Yelich in 2019Julio in 2023PCA in 2026
— nugget chef (@jayhaykid) July 25, 2026 Long story short, PCA’s potential looks to be in a similar realm to Sammy Sosa’s, and this stretch of dominance we’re all enjoying feels on the level (or greater?) than Jake Arrieta’s run from June of 2015 through late May of 2016 that included two no-hitters and just one loss. I also find it notable that Pete says that he “loves” facing Paul Skenes. Who the hell says that unless they’re an absolute badass?"I love facing Paul (Skenes) … that's always fun, especially going up against someone you really like." PCA on facing Paul Skenes in tonight's 11-0 win. pic.twitter.com/J1xKplCajB
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 26, 2026 Let’s try to catch our breath now. Take a drink of water. Smoke a cig. Do a breathing exercise. Because there’s more to get to that doesn’t include PCA, and it’s Shota Imanaga’s turn now. Wild that after being unplayable in last year’s postseason, if the playoffs started today, Shota would be in that starting rotation. In his last eight starts, he has a 2.00 ERA in 45 innings pitched with 39 strikeouts, only 10 walks, and a 210 ERA+. There’s also this wild level of dominance he’s enjoyed against the Pirates in particular: 38.0 IP, 1ER (0.24 ERA), 25.7 K%, 5.7 BB%. James Triantos’ MLB debut in the top of the 8th last night, which ended in a single to right field, was one of those moments that makes us romantic about baseball. Not only was it cool to see his excitement after reaching first, but he then scored from first on Pedro Ramirez’s double to left-center and couldn’t contain his excitement even after the half-inning ended, and he took the field. Perhaps he heads back down to Iowa once Matt Shaw returns from the IL, but Triantos offers more positional versatility and a better pinch-running option for Craig Counsell than Kevin Alcantara did, so I’m looking forward to how he’s able to contribute with there being 15 games in the next 15 days. Fair to say trade deadline activity began in earnest last night with the Red Sox and Nationals getting together on a classic ‘baseball trade’, swapping a major league pitcher for a major league hitter. Is there a ‘baseball trade’ up Jed Hoyer’s sleeve this deadline? I doubt it, but it’s interesting to consider what a deal like that might look like. Michael had some thoughts on the Cubs’ implications of that trade, too, in case you missed it:As for the Cubs, this might confirm that the Red Sox are not selling (though that felt pretty obvious by now). So just keep Sonny Gray and/or Aroldis Chapman off your lists. Well, and now Connelly Early, too, I guess.
I don’t think it says quite as much about the Nationals’ intentions, however. This deal just made sense for them anyway, and Early is currently hurt. Of course, their intentions do still matter because the Nats have a rental starter, Foster Griffin, who could be a good target for Jed Hoyer at the deadline (ranked #8 among my top-10 realistic Cubs trade deadline targets) if the Nationals sell.
And then there’s the Matt Shaw of it all. Maybe if he weren’t hurt, the Cubs could’ve done something similar with the Red Sox. Maybe they wouldn’t have even if they had the choice. Either way, the price for a player of moderately similar value has been set (thank you, Red Sox): a good, young, cost-controlled starter perhaps with a wart or two, but otherwise plenty of already realized upside. That just feels like very useful information to have so close to the deadline.
I’d kindly ask the baseball gods to be more kind to Nico Hoerner.It’s pretty insane to look at Nico Hoerner’s savant pages from the last 3 years. 2024: .273/.335/.373, 102 wRC+2025: .297/.345/.394, 109 wRC+2026: .244/.310/.336, 82 wRC+But, by far worse results in 2026. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/WtHP4LO6UK
— Cubs Daily (@Cubs_Daily1) July 25, 2026 Bummer … Josiah Harsthorn is only hitting .234 in July … oh wait, that comes with a .380 OBP and a .770 OPS, because he’s walking 16.5% of the time as a 19-year-old at High-A. Still a stud. Meanwhile, in case you were wondering, Owen Ayers is still raking. Since his bump up to Triple-A, he’s recorded eight hits in seven games, plus four walks and two stolen bases. The power hasn’t shown up yet, but a .333 AVG and .429 OBP is a pretty good start. Excuse me, Dave Roberts?Shohei Ohtani’s pen session scheduled for today was postponed as he didn’t feel great in his last one. Dave Roberts said he still believes Ohtani will pitch again this season. And while the delay is “a bummer,” Roberts said that’s he’s going to be the MVP, regardless.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 25, 2026MORE CUBS FROM BLEACHER NATION: Go Ad Free | Subscribe to the BN Newsletter
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