Chicago Cubs Announce Pete Crow-Armstrong Change Before Blue Jays Series

Getty

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 05: Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on August 05, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The Chicago Cubs are set to begin a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday following an impressive sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ahead of Thursday afternoon’s first pitch, Cubs manager Craig Counsell made an expected lineup change involving superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong after his two-home run performance in the series finale against the Dodgers.

Cubs Announce Crow-Armstrong Change

After starting the Dodgers series in center field, as Crow-Armstrong typically does for the first two games, Counsell moved PCA to designated hitter on Wednesday to give him a day off defensively.

For Thursday’s series opener, Crow-Armstrong will return to center field and bat leadoff, while Seiya Suzuki will serve as the designated hitter and Ian Happ and Michael Conforto will start in left and right field.

Cubs 8/6

P. Crow-Armstrong CF
S. Suzuki DH
M. Busch 1B
A. Bregman 3B
I. Happ LF
N. Hoerner 2B
M. Conforto RF
D. Swanson SS
M. Amaya C

D. Peterson SP

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) August 6, 2026

Crow-Armstrong’s 2026 Season

PCA is in the middle of what many believe could be an MVP-caliber season in the National League. He’s batting .288 with 124 hits, 26 home runs, 69 RBIs and 28 stolen bases while slugging .552 and maintaining a .938 OPS.

Following Wednesday’s win, he made it clear that while he wants to win MVP — an award likely to come down to him and Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani — his main focus remains on the team as the Cubs look to make a legitimate playoff push over the final 45-plus games of the season.

“I would be crazy to say that I don’t want to win an MVP but if we’re talking about having priorities straight, I think mine are pretty straight,” Crow-Armstrong said. “It’s not on the forefront of my mind. It’s fun to joke about it and it’s fun to acknowledge. And I think it’s absolutely okay to pay attention to, but again, it’s not like following me up to the plate. And yeah, I think if you guys want to talk about all this back and forth, I really should go get in the lab and start pitching. I really should.”