Brewers Edge Cubs Amidst Crow-Armstrong’s Stellar Performance

In the current MVP season for Pete Crow-Armstrong, his performance has had limited impact against the Milwaukee Brewers. Entering the game on Monday at American Family Field, Crow-Armstrong had a .108 average and .422 OPS against Brewers pitching in 2026, with a career average of .164 and .620 OPS against them. Brewers manager Pat Murphy acknowledged the anomaly, stating, “We’re lucky. He’s the best offensive player in the game this year. Throw in his defense and base running… I don’t know of a better player.”

On Monday, Crow-Armstrong homered and stole two bases, continuing his pursuit of a 40-40 season, yet it wasn’t enough to secure a win. The Brewers won 4-3, doing the small things well to achieve victory. The Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd played a significant part until the eighth inning, when Jackson Chourio’s two-run single off Ryan Zeferjahn helped the Brewers seize the lead.

Crow-Armstrong’s solo home run in the ninth—his 41st this season—kept hopes alive before Chourio robbed Seiya Suzuki of a potential hit, concluding the game. Commenting on the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell remarked, “Pete had another nice day… Not enough.”

The Brewers’ comprehensive approach is paying dividends as they move towards clinching the division. The team reduced their magic number to secure a postseason berth to four, and their lead in the NL Central stands at ten. For Chicago, the stakes in the wild-card race intensified, holding half a game behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the initial wild-card position.

In an unusual decision, Counsell kept Boyd in for the eighth inning, a departure from their routine of not allowing starters beyond the seventh. Boyd, despite a commendable performance, gave up key plays, and the Cubs’ bullpen continues to struggle, with their 24th blown save derailing the game. Boyd stated, “I’m in the game until they tell me not to.”

The Brewers lead 7-4 in the season series, virtually eliminating any chance for the Cubs to top the division. Crow-Armstrong’s two steals on Monday brought his total to 35, placing him close to joining the prestigious 40-40 players in history. Yet, Counsell maintains that individual achievements should not overshadow team goals, with postseason placement taking priority.

Upcoming challenges for the Cubs include facing Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski. Meanwhile, the Brewers aim for a first-round bye and home-field advantage with young pitchers exhilarating even amid fatigue. Murphy appreciates this phase, remarking, “When you’re working with young pitchers, it’s more of an opportunity than a problem.”