TOKYO - After collecting his fourth unanimous MVP award last year, Shohei Ohtani is facing his strongest challenge to be named National League MVP from Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has been putting together an outstanding season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has spent a large part of the season off the mound while dealing with left knee inflammation, taking away much of the advantage he would normally enjoy in the MVP stakes via his two-way output.
The 24-year-old Crow-Armstrong, meanwhile, is among the NL leaders in multiple batting categories while also boasting elite defense and base-running, with many observers currently giving him the edge over Ohtani.
The 32-year-old Ohtani is among those singing Crow-Armstrong's praises but says he is not paying attention to the MVP race.
"He is a wonderful player," Ohtani said recently. "However, I want to focus on what I need to do."
Their offensive statistics are similar, with both serving as leadoff hitters and batting in the .270-.280 range, with home runs in the 30s and RBIs in the 80s.
However, Crow-Armstrong leads Ohtani in wins above replacement or WAR, a metric measuring overall player value that has become increasingly influential in MVP discussions. Advanced statistics site FanGraphs showed Ohtani at 7.0 and Crow-Armstrong at 8.6 as of Tuesday.
Ohtani enjoyed his now customary MVP favoritism in the first half of the season while fulfilling his two-way duties, but the knee issue that has prevented him from pitching since July 3 also provided the opening for Crow-Armstrong to take the mantle.
With Ohtani playing solely as a designated hitter, the outfielder has showcased his phenomenal defense with a series of spectacular catches. He has further bolstered his MVP candidacy with more than 30 stolen bases.
When their teams met at Chicago's Wrigley field on Aug. 5, Ohtani and Crow-Armstrong hit two home runs apiece, including a leadoff homer each.
After the series, Crow-Armstrong said he was honored to be considered an MVP rival to Ohtani, but it would mean more to beat the two-time defending World Series champions in the playoffs.
"Simply put, just having your name in the same conversation as someone as profound as (Ohtani), it's awesome and it's a nice nod," Crow-Armstrong said. "I would feel much more accomplished taking (the Dodgers) down at some point."
With the Dodgers indicating Ohtani's pitching return may be as soon as Sunday at the Detroit Tigers, a strong two-way finish to the campaign could make the difference in his bid for a fifth MVP award.
