Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani Ignite 7-6 Cubs Victory, Push Each Into MVP Spotlight

In a wild 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani each belted two home runs. Crow-Armstrong added a double and four RBIs, while Ohtani contributed three hits and three RBIs. The performance gave Chicago a three-game sweep of the two-time defending World Series champions and shifted DraftKings odds, making Crow-Armstrong the new favorite to win the National League MVP at –120.

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• Crow-Armstrong posted a .938 OPS overall and raised his OPS against left-handed pitching to .937 after Wednesday’s game (up from .594 in 2025).

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• He is currently rated the majors’ top fielder at any position based on outs-above-average.

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• Ohtani remains a designated hitter after missing pitching duties since early July due to left-knee soreness; his future mound schedule is uncertain.

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• “He's [PCA] a great player, but I'm really focused on myself right now,” — Shohei Ohtani

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• “I just think simply put, just having your name in the same conversation as someone as profound as he [is], it's awesome and it's a nice nod,” — Pete Crow-Armstrong

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Both players downplayed the MVP chatter, emphasizing personal focus and team success over individual accolades.

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The surge in Crow-Armstrong’s offensive output and his defensive reputation have intensified the NL MVP contest, which will be decided by thirty voters—two from each NL city—after the regular season. Ohtani, a two-time NL MVP winner since joining the Dodgers and a three-time AL MVP with the Angels, remains a formidable contender despite his limited pitching role. The heightened competition underscores the rarity of a player excelling both as a power hitter and a potential pitcher in the same season, adding intrigue to the award’s final deliberations.

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