Pete Crow-Armstrong returned to the Chicago Cubs after 2019 National League Most Valuable Player Cody Bellinger suffered a rib injury during their April 23 game against the Houston Astros. However, being optimistic about his future is tough because he went 0-for-14 in 19 plate appearances last season.

However, he started the 2024 season positively, getting a home run in his first Major League Baseball hit. With a 1-0 count in the bottom of the sixth inning, Crow-Armstrong drilled Bryan Abreu’s pitch over the right field fence. That pivotal hit gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead, eventually becoming the final score.

Crow-Armstrong’s two RBIs improved the Cubs’ record to 16-9. They’ve won seven of their last ten games and are a half-game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the National League Central lead.

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Miguel Amaya were the only Cubs players who registered RBIs against the Astros. In addition to Crow-Armstrong, Nick Madrigal, Dansby Swanson, and Mike Tauchman had one hit each. Nico Hoerner has three hits in five at-bats.

The Cubs defeated Astros pitcher Justin Verlander, who was making his second appearance this season after dealing with right shoulder inflammation.

Conversely, the Astros aren’t looking like the team that went to seven straight American League Championship Series. They are 7-19, the fourth-worst record in MLB, and have the fifth-worst run differential (-36) this season.

-Lance Fernandez