Shohei Ohtani has literally owned the MVP conversation for years, snatching three consecutive awards and aiming for his fourth straight, fifth overall, this season. But for the first time in what feels like forever, the National League MVP race isn’t just a coronation for Ohtani. Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs is absolutely lighting it up and has officially made this a two-man show.
The 30-30 Season That Nobody Expected
Crow-Armstrong isn’t just having a good season; he’s gone full beast mode. He’s already stacked up a 30-30 season, putting him in elite company, and he’s bringing Platinum Glove-caliber defense to the field every single night. This surge from Crow-Armstrong has really tightened things up, especially since Ohtani’s taken a break from pitching this year. Yeah, Ohtani still leads the NL in slugging and OPS, and his home run numbers are right there with Crow-Armstrong, but the stolen base edge definitely goes to the Cub. And let’s not forget Ohtani’s 1.79 ERA through 14 starts, where he went at least six innings in all but one outing. Dude’s still unreal.
“It’s Going to Make Shohei Even Better”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts actually loves this competition. He told the California Post’s Jack Harris that Crow-Armstrong making it a real race is “great for baseball.” More than that, Roberts thinks having a true challenger will actually “make Shohei even better” and “unlock another gear” in him. Think about it: last year, Ohtani got every single first-place vote, even with a solid season from Kyle Schwarber. It’s been ages since Ohtani had someone pushing him like this.
Seriously, this MVP Award could come down to the very last at-bat. If Ohtani can just string together about five more strong starts on the mound while keeping his offensive numbers locked in, he could still pull away. But right now? It’s a nail-biter, and baseball fans are absolutely glued to it.
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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