Crow-Armstrong Shines, Cubs Struggle On

As of June 21st, Pete Crow-Armstrong leads Major League Baseball in WAR with 4.6, yet the Chicago Cubs (40-37) are not leading their division and are instead battling for a wild-card spot.

The Cubs' management acknowledges the importance of securing a playoff bye, with general manager Jed Hoyer suggesting aggressiveness at the trade deadline is tied to improving those odds. Currently, they trail the Brewers by seven games, with their division title chances estimated at 0-23 percent.

The team's recent performance has been frustrating, marked by a significant slump since their strong start. Since May 8th, they have a 13-25 record, struggling with pitching injuries and underperforming offensive players.

Despite a strong individual showing from Crow-Armstrong, who has a .450/.494/.938 slash line with 10 homers in his last 19 games, the Cubs have only managed a 9-10 record during that span and remain several games behind Milwaukee.

Key offensive players like Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, and Nico Hoerner have significantly underperformed their contract values. Manager Craig Counsell highlighted bullpen issues after a recent loss where three relievers faltered, costing the team a lead.

The Cubs face a challenging schedule ahead, including series against the Mets, Brewers, Padres, and Cardinals, making a strong run to end the season imperative if they hope to make the postseason.