Home / Sports / Ohtani vs. Crow-Armstrong: MVP Showdown Ignites
Ohtani vs. Crow-Armstrong: MVP Showdown Ignites
6 Aug
Summary
- Rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong challenged Shohei Ohtani's MVP status with bold claims.
- Crow-Armstrong leads majors in fWAR, Ohtani follows closely, making MVP race tight.
- Freddie Freeman left game after being hit by pitch; X-rays were negative.
The National League MVP race has become a captivating head-to-head contest between Shohei Ohtani and rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong. During a recent game where the Dodgers faced the Cubs, third base coach Dino Ebel playfully needled Crow-Armstrong about Ohtani's MVP status. Crow-Armstrong responded by noting his quick leadoff home run compared to Ohtani's. This exchange highlights the surprising emergence of Crow-Armstrong, who currently leads the majors in fWAR (7.5) with Ohtani close behind at 6.4.
Ohtani, a four-time MVP, downplayed the MVP talk, stating his focus is on team wins. Crow-Armstrong echoed this sentiment, prioritizing the Cubs' success and a potential playoff run. Ohtani's pitching absence due to a knee injury has allowed Crow-Armstrong's strong offensive and defensive performances to significantly narrow the MVP gap. The game itself saw both players hit leadoff home runs, with Crow-Armstrong delivering key doubles and blasts to lead the Cubs.
Dodgers' first baseman Freddie Freeman was hit by a pitch on his right hand, forcing him to leave the game. Fortunately, X-rays returned negative, and Freeman anticipates returning for the next game. Ohtani’s timeline for returning to pitching remains uncertain as he progresses through knee rehabilitation. Manager Dave Roberts indicated any innings from Ohtani would be a bonus, with flexibility in his workload due to the Dodgers' rotation depth.
