Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong (24, Chicago Cubs) are locked in a fierce battle for the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) title. In a thrilling finish, Crow-Armstrong showcased his speed rather than his power to clinch a walk-off victory for his team.
On Friday, the Cubs faced off against the Toronto Blue Jays at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The game was tied 2-2 in the 11th inning when Crow-Armstrong’s lightning-fast baserunning secured a 3-2 win for the home team.
With this victory, the Cubs, currently second in the NL Central, extended their winning streak to four games. Their 67-49 record has significantly boosted their postseason prospects.
Crow-Armstrong had already made waves in the recent three-game home series against the Dodgers, going 6-for-13 with 2 homers, 5 run batted ins (RBIs), 5 runs, and 2 stolen bases. He continued his hot streak in this game, going 2-for-5 with 2 runs scored.
The Cubs were down 0-2 heading into the ninth, but Crow-Armstrong sparked a rally with a leadoff single up the middle.
After two outs, Alex Bregman launched a game-tying two-run homer, breathing new life into the Cubs.
In the 11th, with the automatic runner on second, Crow-Armstrong singled to center. However, the runner was thrown out at home, denying him the walk-off hit.
But Crow-Armstrong wasn’t done yet. After reaching second on an intentional walk to Seiya Suzuki, he attempted to swipe third during Michael Busch’s at-bat.
Toronto catcher Brandon Valenzuela’s throw sailed wide, allowing Crow-Armstrong to dash home for the winning run.
In his fourth big league season, Crow-Armstrong is making a strong case for MVP. Through 116 games, he’s hitting .289 (126 hits in 436 at-bats) with 26 homers, 69 RBIs, 80 runs, and 29 steals, boasting an impressive .936 On-base Plus Slugging (OPS).
Ohtani, gunning for his third straight NL MVP, has been dominant on both sides. As a pitcher, he’s 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts. At the plate, he’s hitting .297 (120 hits in 404 at-bats) with 26 homers, 70 RBIs, 73 runs, and 6 steals in 109 games, with a .953 OPS.
The Cubs haven’t had an MVP since Kris Bryant took home the hardware in 2016.