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For most of the season, it seemed clear that Pete Crow-Armstrong was going to be an MVP candidate once the end of the season arrived. There is less than one month before the end of the season, and it seems that Crow-Armstrong has been relegated to being a platoon player. It was a shift that started on Tuesday night when Kevin Alcantara got the start in center field against a left-handed pitcher.
It was also immediate confirmation of the reason why Alcantara will likely be with the Major League team for the remainder of the season instead of Owen Caissie. Alcantara is a right-handed-hitting outfielder capable of playing all three outfield spots. More importantly, during his time in the minors, Alcantara feasted on left-handed pitchers.
It would seem that moving forward, if the Cubs are facing a left-handed starting pitcher, Alcantara will get the start in center field.
It's hard to argue with the Cubs' logic. Facing lefties has never been a strength for Crow-Armstrong, but it has been especially bad since July. In 70 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers since July 1, Crow-Armstrong is slashing .190/.232/.365 with 2 home runs and a wRC+ of 62. Adding to the misery that is Crow-Armstrong facing a left-handed pitcher is the fact that he has 20 strikeouts over the span of those 20 plate appearances.
Why Cubs are rethinking Pete Crow-Armstrong’s role down the stretch
Crow-Armstrong's defense will always make him an asset for the Cubs the moment he steps onto the field, but in a starting lineup that has been defined by inconsistency since the All-Star break, something needed to change. Especially when, as a collective, the Cubs struggle against left-handed pitchers. Given those factors, when Crow-Armstrong is in the lineup against a southpaw, he is a liability for the Cubs.
If anything, the platoon plan for Alcantara and Crow-Armstrong could be an early indicator of the Cubs' roster construction in 2026. Assuming Owen Caissie is the successor to Kyle Tucker in right field, Alcantara and Crow-Armstrong could be the timeshare in center field for the Cubs.