What happened: MLB Central assessed Pete Crow-Armstrong’s path past Shohei Ohtani with two months left in the regular season. Crow-Armstrong ranks second in MLB’s latest MVP forecast.
Why it matters: Ohtani is pursuing his fifth MVP award overall, while Crow-Armstrong is seeking his first. The race pits Ohtani’s power production against Crow-Armstrong’s broader offensive profile.
By the numbers: MLB’s July 23 projections put Crow-Armstrong at .271 with 31 homers and 85 RBIs, compared with Ohtani at .280 with 38 homers and 97 RBIs.
What to watch: August and September production will shape the final ballots cast after the regular season.