Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) dives into second base past Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (10) during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field. Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Cubs star hits bump in breakout season with knee injury

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Jul 21, 2025 8:37 PM ET

Chicago Cubs breakout star centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong hadn't been slowed this season until Monday.

The 2025 first-time All-Star was held out of the lineup with a swollen knee during the start of a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals. Per The Chicago Tribune Cubs beat writer Meghan Montemurro, manager Craig Counsell shared that Crow-Armstrong suffered his injury on a slide the previous day and is considered day-to-day.

Pete Crow-Armstrong is not in the Cubs lineup today because of a bruised right knee. Counsell said Crow-Armstrong’s knee felt swollen when he woke up this morning, that it happened in Sunday’s game on a slide. Crow-Armstrong is day-to-day and Counsell hopes he’s back in the lineup Tuesday.
— Meghan Montemurro (@mmontemurro.bsky.social) 2025-07-21T21:39:24.068Z

Through 98 games, Crow-Armstrong has a .270/.306/.556 slash line and leads NL position players in wins above replacement (WAR) at 5.7.

He's the league's only player with at least 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases, entering Monday with 26 homers and 28 stolen bases, and is also arguably the major's best fielding centerfielder.

The Cubs (59-40) are tied for first in the NL Central with the surging Milwaukee Brewers (59-40), who have won 10 games in a row. Chicago leads the majors with a plus-123 run differential and is second in runs scored (523).

Crow-Armstrong is tied with designated hitter Seiya Suzuki for the team-lead in home runs and is second in runs batted in (72) and runs scored (68).

He's been indispensable for the Cubs, who are fortunate his injury doesn't appear will keep him out long.

As big of a difference-maker as he is because of his legs, both from running the base pads and chasing down fly balls in the outfield, Chicago shouldn't rush Crow-Armstong back and compromise his abilities.

But with the NL Central deadlocked, the Cubs need arguably their best player back in action sooner rather than later. Otherwise, they could soon discover how valuable Crow-Armstrong truly is.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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