Alright, Cubs fans, let’s talk about Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA) in the leadoff role. 

I’ll admit, I was one of the doubters, side-eyeing the decision to put him at the top of the lineup. But the stats? Oh, they’re telling a different story, and I’m eating my words. PCA is absolutely on fire as the Cubs’ leadoff hitter, and it’s time we dive into the numbers to see what’s fueling this blaze.

Spoiler: it’s not just PCA lighting it up—Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner are riding this wave too.

PCA’s Leadoff: The Numbers Don’t Lie
The Chicago Cubs made a bold move placing PCA in the leadoff spot, and the data from two key periods—before May 10 (7 games) and on/after May 10 (7 games)—shows he’s thriving. Here’s the tale of the tape:

Before May 10 (May 2–May 9)

Strikeouts: 7
Walks: 2
OBP: ~0.321
Slugging: ~0.654
Hits: 7 (3 singles, 1 double, 3 HR)
RBIs: 6
Stolen Bases: 0
Team Record: 3-4 (4.71 runs/game)

On/After May 10 (May 10–May 17)

Strikeouts: 11
Walks: 1
OBP: ~0.387
Slugging: ~0.733
Hits: 11 (7 singles, 1 triple, 3 HR)
RBIs: 11
Stolen Bases: 2
Team Record: 5-2 (5.57 runs/game)

So, what’s up?

PCA’s strikeouts spiked (7 to 11), and walks dipped (2 to 1), suggesting he’s swinging more aggressively. But the payoff? His OBP jumped from 0.321 to 0.387, slugging climbed from 0.654 to 0.733, and he’s racking up hits and RBIs like it’s his job. The Cubs went from a 3-4 record to 5-2, scoring nearly one more run per game (4.71 to 5.57).

Pitch Types: Is PCA Seeing the Ball Better?
Let’s get nerdy with the pitches PCA’s facing, because this might be the key to his success:

Before May 10
Fastball (FB): 43.0%
Slider (SL): 25.1%
Cutter (CT): 1.8%
Curveball (CB): 19.0%
Changeup (CH): 9.6%
Split-Finger (SF): 1.5%

On/After May 10
Fastball (FB): 40.1%
Slider (SL): 29.0%
Cutter (CT): 7.3%
Curveball (CB): 9.2%
Changeup (CH): 13.5%
Split-Finger (SF): 1.0%

Notice anything?

Cutters jumped from 1.8% to 7.3%, while curveballs plummeted from 19.0% to 9.2%. Changeups also ticked up (9.6% to 13.5%). Could this shift be why PCA’s crushing it? Maybe he’s feasting on cutters and changeups while seeing fewer tricky curveballs. And when fastballs dip below 40%, his weighted On-Base Average (wOBA) tends to shine.

Plate Discipline: Smarter Swings, Harder Hits
PCA’s not just swinging for the fences; he’s getting selective. Check out his plate discipline evolution:

Before May 10
O-Swing% (swings at pitches outside the zone): 54.6%
Z-Swing% (swings at pitches in the zone): 69.8%
Contact% (contact on swings): 64.9%
Swinging Strike%: 22.2%
Average Exit Velocity: 91.1 mph

On/After May 10
O-Swing%: 47.4%
Z-Swing%: 83.9%
Contact%: 68.2%
Swinging Strike%: 19.8%
Average Exit Velocity: 93.7 mph

Translation?

PCA’s chasing fewer bad pitches, hammering more strikes, and making better contact. His exit velocity bumped from 91.1 mph to 93.7 mph, meaning he’s hitting the ball harder. This guy’s not just getting on base—he’s setting the table for the Cubs’ offense.

Home vs. Away: Where Does PCA Shine?
PCA’s a road warrior, but he’s no slouch at Wrigley either:

Home (8 games): 11 hits in 34 plate appearances, wOBA 0.422
Away (6 games): 7 hits in 25 plate appearances, wOBA 0.456

More hits at home, but a higher wOBA on the road.

But Wait, There’s More: Swanson and Hoerner Step Up
PCA’s not the only one thriving. Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner are feasting with PCA at leadoff:

Dansby Swanson WPA: Before: -0.063, After: 0.763
Nico Hoerner WPA: Before: 0.083, After: 0.691

Swanson’s move up the lineup (from mostly 8th to 5th-7th, once 1st) is a big deal:

Batting 8th (Before May 10): BA 0.217, OBP 0.308, SLG 0.478, WPA 0.177
Batting 5th-7th, Once 1st (On/After May 10): BA 0.348, OBP 0.464, SLG 0.609, WPA 0.524

Other Cubs Notes

Ian Happ: Slight batting average bump.
Seiya Suzuki: Big rebound across the board.
Michael Busch: Consistent BA and OBP, but his slugging dipped.
Kyle Tucker: BA, OBP, SLG, and WPA tanked (WPA from 0.592 to -0.321).

Final Thoughts
I didn’t see this coming, but PCA’s proving me wrong in the best way. The Cubs’ leadoff experiment is paying off, and with Swanson and Hoerner riding the wave, Chicago’s offense is looking dangerous.

Keep an eye on those pitch types and plate discipline. I suspect the opposing team will (if they haven’t already) pick up on these signals and adjust how they approach him.