Well, get ready for some absolute chaos in the National League MVP race because Shohei Ohtani is projected to return to pitching in September. This isn’t just a minor update, it’s the kind of news that turns a closely fought battle into a winner-take-all brawl, especially with Pete Crow-Armstrong breathing down his neck for the award.
The MVP Showdown Pete Crow-Armstrong Thought He Was Winning
Since Ohtani stepped away from the mound, Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs has been making a serious, valiant effort to steal that NL MVP trophy. Their offensive numbers are incredibly similar, and honestly, Crow-Armstrong’s incredible defense has been doing some heavy lifting just to keep him even, or even put him ahead of Ohtani, in the discussion. Without Ohtani pitching, there was a real chance he wasn’t going to snag the MVP this year. The Dodgers even had to go out and trade for Tarik Skubal at the deadline just to bolster their rotation, a clear need they had to address because their two-way superstar wasn’t throwing. But that’s all about to change, and fast.
September’s Wild Card: Ohtani’s Arm
The latest update, dropped by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, is the good news Ohtani fans have been waiting for. The Dodgers anticipate Ohtani will be pitching again in September, barring any setbacks. Nightengale straight up writes, “The Dodgers anticipate that Shohei Ohtani will be pitching again in September, barring any setbacks, which should also clinch his fifth MVP award as he returns to being a two-way player.” That’s a bold claim, but you can see why. If he’s back on the mound, even providing a little bit more value, like another couple of starts and his innings count climbing over 100 for the season, that might just be enough to keep Crow-Armstrong from walking away with the NL MVP. While Ohtani definitely needs to perform well after his return, there’s no indication he’d struggle mightily coming back. If he can do what Nightengale is reporting, then Ohtani should be back in charge of the MVP race this season.
This whole thing is gonna be wild. Depending on the exact timing of his return and how Ohtani performs back on the mound for the first time since early July, this MVP race could swing dramatically in the final month of the season. It’s going to be an interesting race, and Ohtani’s return to the mound will have a massive impact on how this race finishes this September. Get ready, because the final weeks are going to be must-watch baseball.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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