Pete Crow-Armstrong Emerges as Top NL MVP Contender

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is leading the National League MVP race with a .282 batting average, 24 home runs, 64 RBIs and 26 stolen bases, posting a .921 OPS and the league's highest WAR. Defensively, he tops the league in Outs Above Average (22) and has prevented 19 runs, the most in the NL.

Crow-Armstrong, 24, has praised Dodger Stadium as a favorite defensive venue, making spectacular catches there, though he also misplayed a ball during a recent series and drew boos after comments about Dodgers fans. His MVP bid is framed against two‑time NL MVP Shohei Ohtani, who remains sidelined with injury, opening a path for Crow-Armstrong to challenge the Japanese star for the award.