Pete Crow-Armstrong and Shohei Ohtani lead NL MVP race

Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged as the primary contenders for the 2026 National League MVP award. The race has intensified following recent performances where both players recorded four hits and two home runs in a single game.

Crow-Armstrong recently made history by becoming only the sixth player in major league history to hit both a leadoff and a walk-off home run in the same game. His season statistics include a .281 batting average, 30 home runs, and 31 stolen bases. Ohtani maintains a .295 batting average with 29 home runs and continues to provide significant value for the Dodgers.

While Crow-Armstrong’s case is bolstered by defensive excellence and dramatic narrative, Ohtani’s candidacy remains tied to his dual-threat capability. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted that managing Ohtani’s pitching workload remains a priority to ensure his fitness for the upcoming playoffs.