The Chicago Cubs are continuing to shuffle their batting order, with young outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong once again placed near the bottom of the lineup as they face the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
Crow-Armstrong began the season with a prominent role, even seeing time in the cleanup spot against right-handed pitching. However, his early-season struggles at the plate led to a steady slide down the order. He has recently been hitting as low as eighth and at times even ninth as the Cubs look for more consistent production in the middle of their lineup.
Despite the demotion in the batting order, there have been recent signs of progress. Crow-Armstrong opened the week on a strong note during a series against the San Diego Padres, collecting a hit in each game. His standout performance included a two-run home run and an RBI groundout in the series finale, helping Chicago secure a tight 5–4 victory. That late-game contribution briefly sparked optimism that he might be working his way back up the lineup.
Even with that momentum, however, the Cubs have opted to keep him in the lower part of the order for now. Against Arizona’s ace Zac Gallen, Crow-Armstrong is again slotted into the eighth position, signaling that the team still wants more consistent results before giving him a larger offensive role.
The decision reflects Chicago’s cautious approach with the young outfielder as they try to balance development with competitiveness. While his recent surge suggests upside, the Cubs appear to be prioritizing steadier production throughout the lineup before making further adjustments.
Leave a Reply