The MLB has entered the second half of the 2026 season, and the NL MVP race is pretty much down to two players: Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong. Ohtani was an obvious winner until a knee injury derailed his season, pitching-wise. The Dodgers are being cautious about the four-time MVP, and we may not see the Japanese ace back on the mound until maybe September.
It’s difficult to offset Ohtani’s two-way talent, but a Chicago sports network host presented stats to suggest why Pete Crow-Armstrong deserves to win the MVP over the Dodgers star.
According to “Mully and Haugh Show” co-host David Haugh, given Ohtani is not expected to pitch until late in the regular season, Crow-Armstrong’s stellar defensive and batting stats should be enough reason to consider him a front-runner in the MVP race over Ohtani.
“If he doesn’t pitch the rest of the season, PCA’s defense balances that out,” Haugh said on Monday. “I just think that when you look at Shohei Ohtani, designated hitter for the Dodgers, versus Pete Crow-Armstrong, Mr. Everything for the Cubs, this is no longer theoretical. This is no longer hypothetical. This is real. He’s got a 7.0 WAR. He wins you games with his defense.
“Then let’s compare the offensive numbers that everyone looks at. Shohei is hitting .282 with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs with a .907 OPS. Pete Crow-Armstrong is hitting .290 with 23 home runs, one more than Ohtani, 60 RBIs, one fewer than Ohtani, and a .932 OPS, which is higher than Ohtani’s. Not to mention PCA’s 26 stolen bases, where he is a constant threat on the basepaths. This should put him right now as the frontrunner. Things are trending in that direction.”
When Will Shohei Ohtani Return to Mound?
Shohei Ohtani looked like an NL Cy Young contender and an obvious MVP candidate given his two-way exploits. He has posted an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts. However, the lingering knee injury has not only disrupted his pitching but also ended his bid to win his first Cy Young.
Currently, there is no firm timetable in place for Ohtani’s mound return. The Dodgers ace missed a scheduled bullpen session after experiencing soreness following his previous throwing session. As a result, the Dodgers won’t resume Ohtani’s pitching progression until his knee improves significantly.
Ohtani received a lubricating injection in his left knee around the All-Star break. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has effectively “kicked the can down the road” with regard to when Ohtani will make a return to the mound in the regular season.
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