Overview
- DraftKings odds moved in favor of Pete Crow‑Armstrong, with multiple sportsbooks listing him as the NL MVP favorite over Shohei Ohtani as betting lines shifted this week.
- Crow‑Armstrong leads MLB in WAR and is on pace for another 30‑home run, 30‑steal season, a combination that has driven his rise in the MVP conversation.
- Statcast ranks Crow‑Armstrong atop Outs Above Average and the Cubs have publicized team OAA totals that put Chicago on pace to challenge the single‑season record for defensive outs.
- Ohtani has remained off the Dodgers’ pitching mound since July 3 because of knee soreness after an 8–2, 1.79 ERA start to the season, though some reports note he has resumed pitching practice and his return would materially change the race.
- With fewer than 50 regular‑season games left, voters must balance Crow‑Armstrong’s defensive and baserunning value against Ohtani’s unique two‑way production and health, a choice that will decide both ballots and late betting market moves.