Pete Crow-Armstrong just blasted three homers in a two-day stretch, matching Shohei Ohtani’s recent power surge. That officially makes the National League MVP race the wildest thing in baseball right now. These margins are razor-thin as we head into the homestretch, and it is going to be a photo finish.
NL MVP Is A Complete Dogfight
The NL MVP is down to two absolute studs: Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani. Both are on World Series contenders, putting up insane, nearly identical offensive numbers. PCA, the Cubs CF, bats .279 with a .928 OPS, second in the NL. He’s got 31 HR, 79 RBI, and 90 runs. His real differentiator? 31 stolen bases, 2nd in the NL, and an NL-best 23 outs above average. That’s why his 7.8 WAR leads all of baseball. Ohtani, the Dodgers’ DH/SP, hits .291 with a league-leading .942 OPS. He’s at 30 HR, 80 RBI, and 82 runs, basically matching PCA at the plate. As a pitcher, he’s 8-2 with a ridiculous 1.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 14 starts. The problem? A knee injury has kept him off the mound since July 3. This whole thing could come down to whether voters value PCA’s elite defense and base running or Ohtani’s pitching dominance, even with the layoff. What a decision!
AL Cy Young Race Is Just As Intense
The AL Cy Young race is another one that’s still wide open. Yankees ace Cam Schlittler is the slight favorite, but Dylan Cease, the Blue Jays’ newcomer, is right there. Schlittler, in only his second year, is 10-6 with an AL-best 2.19 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP, which also leads the league. He’s struck out 189 batters, third-most, against only 34 walks, and his 5.2 WAR leads all AL pitchers. Cease has been a bright spot on a disappointing Blue Jays team. He’s 7-5 with a 2.42 ERA, second only to Schlittler, and his 1.06 WHIP ranks sixth. This dude is a K-machine, leading the entire league with 201 strikeouts. He’s at 59 walks and a 5.0 WAR, just behind Schlittler. This race is going to be a nail-biter, no doubt.
Other Awards Are Pretty Much Wrapped Up
While those two races are going down to the wire, some other awards are all but locked up. Yordan Alvarez, the Astros slugger, is practically running away with the AL MVP. He leads the AL in all three Triple Crown categories: a .317 average, 36 homers, and 88 RBI, plus an MLB-best 1.040 OPS. Over in the NL, Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski has been absolutely extraordinary and is taking home the Cy Young. He leads all of baseball in ERA with a mind-blowing 1.75, a 0.75 WHIP, and 210 strikeouts. Seriously, those numbers are insane. The Rookie of the Year races are looking excellent too! Detroit shortstop Kevin McGonigle has 5.7 WAR, and White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami boasts 29 homers. For the NL, Cardinals shortstop JJ Wetherholt has 4.8 WAR thanks to his slick glove, while Reds first baseman Sal Stewart has 27 homers and an MLB-leading 94 RBI.
Every swing, every pitch, every stolen base is going to count for these guys as the season winds down. Voters have some seriously tough choices ahead. Get ready for some wild finishes, because these players are leaving it all out there.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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