NL MVP Race Heats Up: Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong Compete

Shohei Ohtani is not the sole contender for the National League MVP title since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2024 MLB season. Pete Crow-Armstrong from the Chicago Cubs is a serious contender as well, creating a compelling race.

During a recent match at Wrigley Field, both Ohtani and Crow-Armstrong demonstrated their prowess. Each player hit two home runs and collectively drove in seven RBIs, leading to a 7-6 victory for the Cubs. This performance heightened the MVP discourse around Crow-Armstrong, especially after a series sweep against the Dodgers.

Reflecting on his current form, Crow-Armstrong expressed his enjoyment of the buzz surrounding the MVP race. However, he emphasized that winning the MVP award is not his primary focus. According to ESPN, he stated, “I would be crazy to say that I don’t want to win an MVP, but if we’re talking about having priorities straight, I think mine are pretty straight. It’s not on the forefront of my mind. It’s fun to joke about it, and it’s fun to acknowledge. And I think it’s absolutely OK to pay attention to, but it’s not like following me up to the plate.”

Shohei Ohtani, however, has not been at his full capacity. He hasn’t pitched since July 3 due to soreness in his left knee. Despite this, his remarkable batting performance continues. Ohtani boasts a 1.79 ERA this season. Crow-Armstrong jests about the situation saying, “I think if you guys want to talk about all this back and forth, I really should go get in the lab and start pitching. I really should.”

Currently, both players share co-favorite status to win the NL MVP at FanDuel Sportsbook. With roughly 50 games remaining in the season, Ohtani and Crow-Armstrong have almost identical statistics. Each has 26 home runs, with Ohtani slightly ahead in RBIs at 70 and leading in OPS with .953 compared to Crow-Armstrong’s .938.