Armstrong Overtook Shohei Ohtani As the NL MVP Favorite
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has emerged as the favorite for the National League MVP award, overtaking Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who is sidelined from pitching due to a knee injury.
- Ohtani has impressive stats with 26 home runs, 71 RBIs, a .937 OPS, and strong pitching numbers, but his absence from the mound since July 3 has opened the door for Crow-Armstrong.
- Crow-Armstrong leads MLB in defensive metrics, including 22 outs above average and 20 runs prevented, making him a top candidate for the Platinum Glove and MVP awards.
- Offensively, Crow-Armstrong has improved significantly, boosting his on-base percentage from .287 to .388, matching Ohtani’s home runs and RBIs, and excelling against left-handed pitchers with a .945 OPS.
- With a league-best 8.0 fWAR, Crow-Armstrong’s all-around performance has given him an edge in the MVP race, though Ohtani’s potential return to pitching could impact the final outcome.
