Pete Crow-Armstrong has turned into one of baseball’s biggest all-around forces for the Chicago Cubs, and he’s doing it with a glove that keeps flashing in center field and a bat that’s taken a real jump this season.
The two-time All-Star is putting together the best offensive year of his career while still handling elite defensive work in center. And when the Cubs outfielder talks about the places he likes to patrol, Dodger Stadium sits near the top of the list.
“Honestly, I love playing center at Dodger Stadium,” Crow-Armstrong said during the 2026 MLB All-Star Game on Fox. “It’s a pretty simple layout. I got a little tripped up in center field there this year, but I’ve had some fun moments in that outfield.
“So I’d say there, Anaheim is great, St. Louis is great. Those three ballparks all take really good care of the grass and the playing surface.”
That comfort in Los Angeles makes sense. Crow-Armstrong grew up in Sherman Oaks, Calif., and spent plenty of time at Dodger Stadium as a kid. He’s also made his share of noise there as a big leaguer, including a standout play earlier this year when he went up at the left-center field wall to take away a potential extra-base hit from Teoscar Hernández.
But the ballpark has not always been kind to him. In the Cubs’ three-game series against the Dodgers from April 24-26, Crow-Armstrong misplayed a ball and finished just 2-for-10 with five strikeouts.
He also drew loud boos from Dodgers fans after earlier comments that rubbed them the wrong way. Crow-Armstrong had implied that Dodgers fans only care about the team when it’s winning, and he later stood by those remarks.
So while he may have made himself a villain in the eyes of some Dodgers fans, Crow-Armstrong still seems to enjoy coming home and playing in Southern California.
And beyond the regional chatter, there’s a bigger baseball chase taking shape around him. Shohei Ohtani has won two straight National League MVP Awards since signing his record-breaking deal with the Dodgers before the 2024 season.
With Ohtani still weeks away from potentially returning to the mound, some around the game believe the MVP picture could start to open up. Crow-Armstrong recently said he hopes to take down Ohtani as the reigning MVP, though he also acknowledged that’s a tough mountain to climb.
He doesn’t bring the pitching side of the equation the way Ohtani does, but Crow-Armstrong may be the sport’s best defensive player at one of its most demanding positions.
In Other News…
Dodgers Fans Are Seeing Dalton Rushings Double Standard All Over Again
Dalton Rushing has continued to give the Dodgers a real spark at the plate while filling in for Will Smith, and that has helped keep his name in the mix even after some of the viral moments that once made him easy to talk about for reasons beyond baseball. He has looked comfortable in regular duty, and his July production has only strengthened the sense that the Dodgers may have something useful here as they wait on Smiths return.
That backdrop is why fans around the sport keep noticing the different standards young players get judged by, especially when another struggling hitter shows frustration in public. Jarren Duran, who has been mired in a rough season for Boston, drew attention for yelling and gesturing at a teammate after a fly ball against the Athletics, then tried to move past the scene while acknowledging his own struggles. For Dodgers observers, it is the kind of moment that naturally invites comparison, because Rushings steadier bat has kept him in a far more forgiving spotlight.
Dodgers Just Got A Will Smith Update That Changes The Deadline Mood
Will Smiths absence has stretched longer than the Dodgers expected, but the latest read on his neck injury has at least given the club a clearer sense of where things stand. Smith has been dealing with an inflamed disc in his neck, and while he has stayed off the roster, Dodgers president Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts have both said his recovery is moving in a positive direction. For a team that has leaned on depth all season, any sign of progress matters, especially at a position where rhythm and continuity are hard to replace.
In Smiths absence, Dalton Rushing and Eliezer Alfonzo have handled catching duties and helped keep the position afloat while the Dodgers wait for a more definite return date. The uncertainty is still part of the story, but the tone around Smith has shifted from concern to cautious optimism, which is enough to change how the deadline conversation feels around the club. A healthier Smith would alter the catching picture in a meaningful way, but for now the Dodgers are still left managing the gap and watching the calendar.
Dodgers Legend Orel Hershiser Is Getting A Fitting LA Honor
Orel Hershiser is set for a distinctly Los Angeles honor this summer, with the former Dodgers ace receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the sports entertainment category during an Aug. 13 ceremony. It is the kind of tribute that fits Hershisers place in the citys baseball history, recognizing a pitcher whose name still carries real weight among Dodgers fans decades after his playing days.
The star will sit at 6755 Hollywood Boulevard, a location chosen with a nod to Hershisers scoreless innings streak and jersey number. Hershiser spent a long stretch with the Dodgers and built his legacy there, capped by a Cy Young Award and World Series MVP honors in 1988, and the Walk of Fame salute adds another permanent marker to a career already woven into Los Angeles sports lore.