Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong Takes Physical, Mental Break

The Chicago Cubs are taking a cautious approach with their young center fielder, Pete Crow-Armstrong. He’s been given back-to-back days off.

Manager Craig Counsell said the move aims to give the 23-year-old a physical and mental breather. Crow-Armstrong’s plate performance has dipped hard since the All-Star break.

With a scheduled team off day on Thursday, Crow-Armstrong gets three straight days away from game action. The hope is that this pause sparks a turnaround as the season enters its later stages.

Giving Crow-Armstrong a Reset

Counsell explained this rest wasn’t some last-minute idea. The Cubs mapped it out during their recent road trip.

That trip took a toll. High-energy play and heavy defensive demands made the need for a break more obvious as the days wore on.

Crow-Armstrong has struggled at the plate, especially in the second half of the season. He’s looked out of sync offensively.

Offensive Struggles Since the All-Star Break

Since the Midsummer Classic, the Cubs’ center fielder has hit just .212 with a .624 OPS. The slump has only gotten worse recently.

From August 1 onward, his average dropped to .163. Over that stretch, he managed five extra-base hits, struck out 29 times, and walked just five times.

He’s clearly searching for rhythm in the batter’s box, especially against top-tier pitching.

Defensive Workload Adding to Wear and Tear

While his bat’s gone cold, Crow-Armstrong hasn’t let up defensively. On the Cubs’ West Coast swing, he covered a ton of ground in center field—first in San Francisco, then in Denver’s thin air.

Travel, tough ballparks, and quality opponents probably added to his fatigue. It’s a lot for anyone, let alone a young player still finding his footing.

Limited Production on the Road Trip

During that rough stretch, Crow-Armstrong went just 6-for-35. After those struggles, he landed on the bench for Tuesday and Wednesday’s games against the Atlanta Braves.

The Cubs want to give him a real reset before an important series in Washington. It feels like the right time.

Lineup Adjustments in His Absence

To fill Crow-Armstrong’s spot, Counsell turned to Willi Castro in center field. That let Seiya Suzuki shift over from right field for a bit.

Then Suzuki had to step into another role after replacing Kyle Tucker, who left Tuesday’s game with a tight left calf. The shuffle never really stops, does it?

Kyle Tucker’s Status Remains Unclear

The Cubs are still waiting for updates on Tucker’s condition. They’ll know more before Friday’s game against the Washington Nationals.

Not knowing if Tucker will be available just adds to the outfield puzzle for now.

Key Takeaways from the Situation

• Planned Rest: Craig Counsell gave Crow-Armstrong some time off. He wanted to help him deal with both physical fatigue and the mental grind.
• Offensive Struggles: After the All-Star break, his batting average dropped fast. Extra-base hits have been pretty rare for him lately.
• Heavy Defensive Load: He’s been covering a ton of ground in some tough ballparks. That’s definitely added to his workload.
• Lineup Flexibility: Willi Castro and Seiya Suzuki have jumped in to handle outfield spots while he’s out. The team’s shuffled things around to cover for him.
• Uncertain Injury News: Kyle Tucker’s dealing with calf tightness. That could make lineup decisions even trickier.

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