The Chicago Cubs just clinched a playoff spot with a clutch 2-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday, and nobody, absolutely nobody, has a better read on this squad than Pete Crow-Armstrong. After a season that has been a relentless parade of challenges, PCA didn’t mince words, telling Cubs insider Tony Andracki that “We’re built for this weird s–t.” And honestly? Looking at what they’ve been through, it’s hard to argue with him.
A Pitching Staff Held Together with Duct Tape and Dreams
Seriously, has any team faced this level of pitching devastation? It’s been absolutely brutal. Back in April, the Cubs lost their ace, Cade Horton, for the rest of the campaign to Tommy John surgery. That’s a gut punch on its own, but it stung even more because fellow starting pitcher Justin Steele underwent the *same exact surgery* last season and hasn’t seen major league action *at all* in 2026. Then, to twist the knife further, Ben Brown was lost for the entire season with a neck injury. Folks, that’s arguably your three best starting options, just gone. Poof.
It wasn’t just the rotation either. Depth became a serious issue in the bullpen with Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Riley Martin, and Hunter Harvey all sidelined at various points this year. You had to wonder how in the world they were going to keep it together. Other guys like Matthew Boyd and Edward Cabrera have also spent time on the IL. It’s been a revolving door of injuries on the mound, a truly impossible situation that would sink most teams.
Offense and Defense: The Unsung Heroes
So, how did they pull it off? How did they not just survive, but clinch a playoff berth? You look at the numbers, and it’s crystal clear. Crow-Armstrong and the rest of the offense have been absolutely electric, picking up all that pitching slack and then some. They currently lead the entire league in runs scored, which is just insane given the circumstances. Talk about a group stepping up!
But it’s not just about mashing dingers. The defense has been legitimately phenomenal. According to Baseball Savant’s Fielding Run Value total, this Cubs defense is the best in baseball by a significant margin. When your pitching staff is getting hammered by injuries, having an offense that can light up the scoreboard and a defense that vacuums up everything in sight is the only way you survive. It’s the kind of resilience you absolutely need heading into the big games.
Just When You Thought It Couldn’t Get Weirder: Bregman Down
And because this is the Cubs, and because they are indeed “built for this weird s–t,” there’s still more adversity hovering just three games from the end of the regular season. Alex Bregman, who has been nothing short of Chicago’s second-best offensive player behind Crow-Armstrong since the All-Star break, is now dealing with multiple facial fractures after being struck by a foul ball in the on-deck circle. His status for the playoffs? Completely up in the air. This is a huge, huge blow. Bregman’s bat is vital; he likely needs to be in that lineup if this team is going to make a serious run.
But Pete Crow-Armstrong still believes all this adversity is actually making them stronger. They’ve faced down what felt like insurmountable odds all year, and they’re still standing. With only three regular season games left, the next few days are all about assessing Bregman and getting mentally ready. They’ve clinched their spot, now they get a chance to prove PCA right: this team is built to thrive when things get truly wild in the playoffs. Let’s see if they can shock everyone.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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