Cubs’ walk-based – Pete Crow-Armstrong’s surge at the plate—highlighted by a clutch walk against Padres reliever Adrian Morejon—has helped the Cubs rebound offensively. The team leads MLB in walks and pairs that discipline with a stretch of strong run production, even as injurie
Pete Crow-Armstrong walked in the ninth, scored the winning run, and the night still had more to give. Three innings earlier. the Cubs’ center fielder took a walk against Padres reliever Adrian Morejon—an at-bat teammates couldn’t stop talking about. especially because Morejon entered the matchup with only seven walks issued in 42 innings this season.
Cubs skipper Craig Counsell didn’t focus on the highlight noise. Asked about what’s been most exciting about Crow-Armstrong lately. Counsell pointed to the quieter habit: “We enjoy some of the smaller things. ” he said. “but that walk [Monday] night against Morejon was a great at-bat where Pete was really in control of the at-bat against one of the best left-handed relievers in the game.”.
Nico Hoerner sounded like a player watching a teammate do something that changes the feel of a game. “The walk he had off Morejon last night in a big spot. everyone on their feet. one of the best lefty relievers in the game. just pass it on to the next guy?. Impressive,” the second baseman said. Hoerner tied it directly to approach—confidence in at-bats. trust to take borderline pitches. and a clear idea of what Crow-Armstrong wants to hit.
Crow-Armstrong’s plate discipline has become its own headline. He carried an outrageous 1.243 June OPS into Tuesday night’s game against the Padres. a number boosted by reaching base four times the night before in the Cubs’ walk-off win. The walk is the story because it’s not just happening—it’s sustaining a team identity the Cubs can lean on even when the offense has needed to re-find itself.
That identity shows up in the league standings. Coming into Tuesday, the Cubs had 377 walks—more than 30 more than the next-highest team total, held by the division-leading Brewers. They also ranked fifth in on-base percentage with a .336 mark, and they led baseball with an 11.2 percent walk rate. Even during the early-summer stretch when the Cubs’ offense went quiet, walks never stopped being a constant.
As the bats have heated up over the last couple weeks. the patience at the plate looks less like a side effect and more like a recipe. The Cubs walked four times Monday against the Padres. and they drew 18 walks in three games against the Brewers. including four against flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski last Friday. During a four-game sweep of the Mets in which the Cubs scored 33 runs, they drew a combined 17 free passes.
Left fielder Ian Happ summed up the group’s mindset Saturday in Milwaukee. “We have a roster that’s very capable of guys getting on base,” he said. “Obviously. we’re up there in the league in on-base percentage. just finding a way to get on base.” He also pointed to how the Cubs have pushed pitch counts and made starters work: “The [first two games of the Brewers series]. though starting pitchers have done a great job against us. the pitch counts have been up there a little bit. We definitely did that in New York, too, and got guys out of the game quick.”.
This isn’t just a Crow-Armstrong story. Crow-Armington and first baseman Michael Busch rank in the top 30 in on-base percentage. Busch and Happ rank in the top 30 in walk rate. and Busch. Happ. and third baseman Alex Bregman are all in the top 30 in walks. Formerly slumping shortstop Dansby Swanson broke out in New York. but even when his numbers were at their ugliest. he maintained a career-best walk rate. Busch, like Crow-Armstrong, has drawn attention for improved plate discipline despite power numbers down from a season ago.
The connection between the discipline and the results has been visible in the standings. The Cubs came into Tuesday having won 13 of 17 games. and in that span since June 11 they led baseball with 108 runs scored—and 83 walks. In the middle of a midseason grind, it’s the unglamorous base-on-balls numbers that have helped keep the momentum moving.
That momentum, however, has to share the spotlight with a difficult reality: the injuries keep piling up. The Cubs sent Shaw and righty reliever Ethan Roberts to the injured list ahead of Monday’s game, further testing the team’s depth.
There’s also a pitching timeline to watch. The Cubs are aiming to have Taillon, who has been out since early June with a strained hamstring, make a rehab start this weekend. If that goes well, it could set him up for a return from the IL during the team’s final series before the break.
And as Wrigley Field keeps delivering dramatic moments—Seiya Suzuki provided the latest game-winning thrill as the Cubs recorded their 10th walk-off win of the season—the Cubs’ next set of challenges may come down to whether their patience at the plate holds steady. For a team chasing championship-level goals. getting on base the slow. steady way may end up being the most reliable kind of spark.
Chicago Cubs Pete Crow-Armstrong Adrian Morejon Craig Counsell Nico Hoerner Ian Happ Michael Busch Dansby Swanson Alex Bregman walk rate on-base percentage Wrigley Field injured list