Pete Crow-Armstrong’s MVP chances take a hit after update on Shohei Ohtani

After his dreadful second half to 2025, Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong did not have the greatest PR. At the time, it would have been an outlandish statement to say that he would be a prime MVP candidate in 2026. Now halfway through August, Crow-Armstrong has been perhaps the best player in baseball, even over Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. His completeness as a hitter paired with his platinum glove defense in center field is infinitely valuable. Crow-Armstrong has played in all 124 of Chicago’s games this season. He is slashing .277/.375/.530 for a .905 OPS, hitting 27 home runs and collecting 73 RBIs. He is 30-for-37 on stolen bases. MORE: Dodgers to move All-Star to bullpen after update on Tyler Glasnow The MVP race Aug 2, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) catches a fly ball from New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) The 24-year-old is having one of the greatest defensive seasons of all-time, according to some metrics. In 1,055 ⅔ innings, Crow-Armstrong has registered 22 outs above average and 24 fielding run value. Both marks are well clear of the next best, that being Ceddanne Rafaela of the Boston Red Sox. Crow-Armstrong is about as good as the game has seen for recent MVP candidates. The issue is that he has to outplay baseball’s best player of the 2020s in Ohtani. Ohtani was fantastic on the mound earlier in the season, but knee and bicep problems have kept him off of it since his last start on July 3. On Sunday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Ohtani is anticipated to return to pitching in September. Outlook for the last quarter of 2026 In 14 starts and 85 ⅔ innings, he has compiled an 8-2 record and a 1.79 ERA. The 32-year-old has struck out 95 and walked 26. Ohtani’s return to the mound likely will not be as dominant, but it does not have to be in this MVP race. The argument will boil down to what is more valuable: 17 or 18 starts of Shohei Ohtani or 30 outs above average defense in center field plus ≈40 stolen bases from Pete Crow-Armstrong. As of now, Ohtani has been the better hitter (.931 OPS to .905 OPS). However, there are still about 40 games remaining for both of their teams so things can and will change. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —