Shohei Ohtani isn’t cruising to his third straight NL MVP this year. That’s right, the two-time reigning MVP, who’s already bagged three MVPs since 2023, has serious competition. This year, he’s definitely not the easy favorite, and it’s all thanks to a Chicago phenom who’s pulled off something truly historic.
The MVP Showdown: Ohtani vs. Crow-Armstrong Heats Up
The final quarter of the regular season is here, and this MVP race is absolutely electrifying. Over in Chicago, Pete Crow-Armstrong, a 24-year-old five-tool talent, has exploded onto the scene. He just became the first Chicago Cub in history to record two consecutive 30-30 seasons, and his defense in center field? Tremendous, plain and simple. As of Wednesday, August 19, Crow-Armstrong is leading all of baseball with an insane 8.2 fWAR. That’s a massive statement, folks.
But don’t count Ohtani out just yet. He’s still Ohtani, right? He’s got Crow-Armstrong beat in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and RBI. Plus, let’s not forget the dude is also pitching, rocking a stellar 1.79 ERA on the mound. Just yesterday, on August 18, Ohtani blasted a two-run home run in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, showing he’s still got that game-changing power. As Patrick Saunders of MLB.com pointed out, this race is tight. It’s a genuine battle between a historic two-way superstar and a surging young talent making history in his own right. Who thought we’d see someone challenge Ohtani like this so soon?
Dodgers’ Outfield Struggles and Team Support
While the MVP race is heating up, the Dodgers are dealing with their own drama, especially with outfielder Kyle Tucker. His first season in Dodger blue has been completely underwhelming. Tucker is currently slashing .230/.326/.367 with just 11 home runs and 55 RBI through 119 games. Tough stuff to watch for any team’s fans. He recently snapped an 0-26 skid with an RBI double against Ryan Feltner during the Dodgers’ 7-6 win over the Rockies on Tuesday.
Despite the struggles, the Dodgers have been vocal about having Tucker’s back. Manager Dave Roberts has apparently made it his mission to build a more personable relationship with him, per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times. Roberts said on Tuesday that when players “start to struggle and you internalize … you find yourself going dark, and that’s a lonely place.” He’s trying to “proactively pull conversations out of him, talk about life, talk about baseball,” hoping to open things up and make it “freeing.” Roberts knows Tucker is a “cerebral guy by nature” who internalizes a lot, especially being with a new club and “scuffling.” For his part, Tucker wishes he knew why he’s struggling so much, admitting, “If I knew, I’d probably have figured it out by now. But that’s just kind of how it’s gone.”
Adding to the Dodgers’ woes on Tuesday, catcher Hunter Feduccia had to leave the game in the seventh inning due to a stomach bug, even vomiting after coming off the field. Roberts confirmed it was “this stomach bug or food poisoning, something like that.” Hopefully, Feduccia gets back out there soon.
The NL MVP race is setting up for an incredible finish, with Ohtani fighting to keep his crown against the historic rise of Pete Crow-Armstrong. Meanwhile, the Dodgers need Kyle Tucker to figure things out if they want to make some noise. This final quarter of the season is going to be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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