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Cubs learned an uncomfortable truth during the Crosstown Classic loss to White Sox

Pete Crow-Armstrong emerged as the emotional leader of the Cubs, but the series also exposed several flaws Chicago cannot ignore.
ByCasey McAleer|
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May 16, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) points after he hits a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
May 16, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) points after he hits a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The Cubs walked into the Crosstown Classic looking like one of the best teams in baseball, but they walked out of Rate Field with a handful of problems that suddenly feel a lot harder to ignore. From pitching woes to hitting slumps, this series seemed to have it all.

Despite the fact that the Cubs have had a clearly stronger season, it seems the issues plaguing the Cubs have run deep enough to expose issues on the macro level while on a national stage in an iconic rivalry series.

Pete Crow-Armstrong once again proved he can be the heartbeat of the Cubs lineup

PCA was not the most consistently dominant name in the lineup during the Crosstown Classic, but he is one that delivered when the Cubs really needed it. His 9th inning home run during game 2 to keep the Cubs in the game was enough to be named series MVP for the Cubs.

PCA has shown his leadership both in the locker room and on the field. Off the field, he's been an exemplary Chicago representative, frequently being seen in the company of Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. He's been tough on himself, even when his team has pulled out the win. His integrity, his passion, and his ability to be present for the team is something that's nearly unmatched in all of Chicago sports right now.

The Cubs are still one of the better teams in baseball, and nothing that happened during the Crosstown Classic suddenly erased that reality. At the same time, this series showed that several of the problems lingering beneath the surface are legitimate concerns, especially when the offense cools off or the pitching staff becomes predictable against aggressive lineups.

Even with the series loss, the Cubs still showed signs of a team capable of playing meaningful baseball deep into the season. Their defense remains elite, their energy never disappeared, and players like Pete Crow-Armstrong continue to give the roster a spark that cannot be manufactured. The question now is whether the Cubs can clean up their weaknesses before stronger teams begin exposing them the same way the White Sox just did.

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