Pete Crow-Armstrong’s second-half slump deepens thanks to Cubs star’s oh-fer weekend at Wrigley

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s second half isn’t getting any better.

The Cubs’ center fielder was baseball’s breakout star in the first half of the season, earning him a starting spot in the NL outfield at the All-Star Game.

But since the break, things haven’t gone well. They’ve been particularly poor since the beginning of August. In his last 38 games, Crow-Armstrong is hitting .162, a number lowered thanks to an 0-for-12 showing this weekend against the Rays.

Crow-Armstrong hasn’t been the only Cubs hitter to see his production fall off a cliff in the second half, with right fielder Kyle Tucker and designated hitter Seiya Suzuki slumping, as well. Those two didn’t see any action this weekend, with Tucker nursing a strained calf on the injured list and Suzuki sidelined with an illness.

Crow-Armstrong was in the lineup all three days but only reached base once, on a fourth-inning walk in Sunday’s 4-3 win, and struck out five times.

The signs of frustration have been easy to spot, though Crow-Armstrong chucking his bat after a strikeout was a common sight even when everything seemed to be going right during the first half. That’s the kind of emotional on-field presence he is, something that’s brought ample energy and excitement when things are going well.

But though he’s still contributed with terrific center-field defense and speed on the base paths, things are far from right at the moment, with the playoffs looming.

“Where Pete’s at in his career, [it’s about] being resilient,” bench coach Ryan Flaherty said Sunday. “Success isn’t just linear, and we’re seeing that with Pete. His ability to play defense and [his] baserunning has really kept him afloat during this, and we’ve really tried to emphasize with Pete to put his focus on that while, clearly, he’s working through things offensively.

“He’s going through it right now, I think he’d admit that. But what he does for the team defensively and with his feet changes the game.

“Defense doesn’t slump.”

Ballesteros’ big weekend

Perhaps lost in the unbelievable moment that was a home-run ball finding Anthony Rizzo in the bleachers Saturday was that it was the first career long ball for rookie slugger Moises Ballesteros.

Ballesteros had a big series against the Rays, going 5-for-10 with a homer, a triple, a couple walks, three runs scored and a couple RBIs.

“I feel, definitely, a lot more comfortable out there, don’t feel as much pressure as before,” Ballesteros said Saturday through an interpreter. “The first time you come up here, it’s the adrenaline, the excitement. It’s your first time being up here, you’re trying to be too perfect.

“But once you realize you can form part of the big league team, that’s what really helps to get rid of that pressure and the nerves.”

Caissie to the IL

Before Sunday’s game, the Cubs put outfielder Owen Caissie on the injured list with a concussion.

Caissie left Saturday’s loss early after hitting his head on the outfield wall while making a catch in the third inning.

The Cubs brought Kevin Alcantara back up from Triple-A Iowa a day after sending him down in exchange for Caissie.

Sickness sidelines Suzuki

Suzuki missed his third straight game with an illness Sunday.

“He’s not making much progress, maybe a little better today,” manager Craig Counsell said after the game. “Don’t expect him in the lineup [Monday].”