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Sports Monday, July 6, 2026 | | |
| | | | | Good morning, Chicago. Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has prided himself on finding ways to elevate his game. The team's lone All-Star has been focused on improving his performance against left-handers, and it has yielded strong returns for him and the Cubs this season against southpaws. “I think Pete’s improvement against left-handed pitching is significant as to one of the reasons why we’ve improved (against left-handed pitchers),” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said before Sunday's 6-4 win over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. “But overall, we’ve done a nice job against left-handed pitchers.” Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong singles during the sixth inning against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field on July 5, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) The Cubs have been one of the best teams against left-handers this season, posting a .776
OPS, the second-best mark in the major leagues. It’s Crow-Armstrong’s development against same-sided pitching that has been a boon to the Cubs’ lineup. He’s hitting a career-best .286 with a .922 OPS against left-handers this season, up from a .188 and .594 mark in 2025. Crow-Armstrong has raised that mark by inching closer to the plate, quite literally, which has allowed him to improve his discipline. Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History | | | | The Chicago White Sox regained sole possession of first place in the American League Central on Sunday after a 7-6 victory against the Cleveland Guardians. | | | | | The Chicago Blackhawks signed two players in NHL free agency Wednesday. What are general manager Kyle Davidson’s next steps for the team? | | | | | U.S. President Donald Trump intervened on behalf of American star forward Folarin Balogun, whose suspension was lifted in a decision that allows him to play in a World Cup match against Belgium on Monday. | | | | | The United States is aiming for back-to-back World Cup knockout wins for the first time. Coach Mauricio Pochettino expects a full lineup Monday against Belgium. | | | | | The Chicago Cubs have been one of the best teams against left-handed pitching this season, posting a .776 OPS, the second-best mark in the major leagues. | | | | | Takeaways from the sports week, including World Cup fever, all-time Cardinals-hating Cubs and a new name for the semiquincentennial. | | | |
