CHICAGO — Pete Crow-armstrong is 23 years old,but on Friday the speedy Cubs center fielder turned a record-setting 30-something.
Crow-Armstrong hit his 30th homer in Chicago’s 12-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, making him the frist player in franchise history to hit 30 home runs, steal 30 bases and hit 30 doubles in a season, and the record sixth player in the majors this season with 30 homers and 30 steals.
The left-handed-hitting All-Star joined Sammy Sosa as the second Cub to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases. Sosa did it in 1993 and 1995.
As the sixth 30-30 player this year, two more than the previous high, he joined Arizona’s Corbin Carroll, the New York Yankees’ Juan Soto, the Los Angeles dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, the Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena, and the Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz.
cubs Close in on NL Wild Card Spot with Victory Over Padres
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The Chicago Cubs secured their second win in eight games on September 26, 2025, significantly reducing their magic number to clinch the top National League (NL) wild card and home-field advantage to just one game over the San Diego Padres.The two teams are slated to meet in the opening round of the playoffs beginning next Tuesday.
crow-armstrong’s Impact and Fan Connection
Rookie outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong expressed a singular focus on postseason play, stating, “Whatever the stats are, I just want to go play playoff baseball at this point. Rather than talk about other stuff honestly, I just want to win more ballgames.”
Crow-Armstrong’s performance was highlighted by a home run that resonated not only on the field but also with a dedicated Cubs fan.The fan,attending his first game in 30 years,retrieved the home run ball and returned it to Crow-Armstrong,requesting a meeting and some memorabilia in exchange.Crow-Armstrong happily obliged, acknowledging the special meaning of the moment for the long-time supporter.
Playoff Implications and Remaining Schedule
With a magic number of one, the Cubs can clinch the wild card spot with one more win or a Padres loss. This sets up a possibly exciting final few games of the regular season. the Cubs and Padres will then face off in a best-of-three series starting next Tuesday, with the winner advancing to the NL Division Series.
Key Takeaways:
* Cubs on the Brink: Chicago needs just one more win or a San Diego loss to secure the top NL wild card.
* Playoff Matchup Set: The Cubs and Padres will meet in the opening round of the playoffs next Tuesday.
* Crow-Armstrong’s Focus: The rookie outfielder is laser-focused on contributing to a playoff run.
* Fan Connection: A heartwarming exchange between crow-armstrong and a lifelong Cubs fan highlighted the game.
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