Pete Crow-Armstrong is ascending to heights Chicagoans could only have dreamed of. The Chicago Cubs centerfielder hit a leadoff home run and a walk-off blast last night against the rival Chicago White Sox, electrifying the Wrigley Field crowd like he has all season. The 24-year-old Crow-Armstrong has been the most impactful position player this season. His 7.7 WAR is by far the best in MLB, and his .929 OPS ranks only behind Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani in the National League. Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani are battling for NL MVP honors and both have a strong case. Here's the tale of the tape. Is this PCA's year? Crow-Armstrong is an elite five-tool player whose only flaw is chasing outside the strike zone too frequently. He's improved each season, making the All-Star Game the last two, and this feels like the right time for his first MVP. The Cubs sit comfortably in the top Wild Card spot thanks largely to his excellence, as Crow-Armstrong is batting .281/.379/.550 with 30 home runs and 78 RBI.
PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG WALK-OFF HOME RUN FOR 30/30 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TSUSXmb8vi — MLB (@MLB) August 18, 2026 Don't count out Ohtani yet The MVP case for Ohtani isn't quite as overwhelming as it usually is, mostly because he hasn't pitched since July 3 due to lingering knee soreness. But while Ohtani hasn't been on the mound in a while, he's been superb at the plate. The 32-year-old is batting .295/.392/.556 with 29 home runs and 78 RBI this season. Ohtani was also pitching exceptionally well prior to his injury, tallying an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 85.2 innings. USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale reports Ohtani is expected to return to the Dodgers' rotation in September, and if he gets back to where he left off, Ohtani could very well secure his fifth MVP.
Shohei Ohtani hits a 2-run blast for his second homer of the game 😲 pic.twitter.com/Mcs2IOD0QM — MLB (@MLB) August 18, 2026 How are prediction markets viewing NL MVP race? It's a near-even split on Kalshi as of publication with PCA at 52% and Ohtani at 51%. They'll have six weeks to separate themselves in one of the more thrilling MVP races in recent memory. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Is Pete Crow-Armstrong overtaking Shohei Ohtani in NL MVP race?