Crow-Armstrong overtakes Ohtani as NL MVP favorite

A tight, two-man race for the National League Most Valuable Player award has dramatically tightened, with Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete CrowArmstrong now considered the betting favorite over Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani following a pivotal series between their teams this week. The shift in momentum comes after CrowArmstrong led the Cubs to a three-game sweep of the Dodgers at Wrigley Field, a series that culminated on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, with both players hitting two home runs in the finale.

CrowArmstrong’s performance in that game was particularly decisive, as he finished with three hits, two home runs, and four runs batted in, helping the Cubs to a 7-6 victory. In the first inning, he and Ohtani traded solo home runs, each hitting their 25th of the season. With that homer, CrowArmstrong became the first player in Cubs history with consecutive seasons of at least 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases.

The head-to-head showdown has reshaped the MVP landscape. Major sportsbooks moved CrowArmstrong ahead of Ohtani as the favorite during Wednesday’s game, a reflection of both his recent surge and the Cubs’ successful series. Prediction markets also show the race...