The Chicago Cubs delivered a stunning blow to the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers this week, completing a decisive three-game sweep at Wrigley Field. While the Dodgers’ six-game losing streak became a significant talking point, the escalating National League MVP race between the Cubs’ dynamic center fielder, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and the Dodgers’ superstar, Shohei Ohtani, truly defined the series. What began with Ohtani as the clear frontrunner has now transformed into a neck-and-neck battle, with Pete Crow-Armstrong’s mounting NL MVP campaign gaining undeniable momentum.
A Series Defined by Stardom
From the opening pitch of the series, Pete Crow-Armstrong made his presence felt. In Game 1, a 10-5 Cubs victory, the Dodgers initially took a three-run lead in the first inning. However, Crow-Armstrong quickly responded, singling and then scoring on a Seiya Suzuki home run. He later walked and scored again, getting on base twice and crossing the plate twice in the Cubs’ dominant win. This performance, while impactful, was merely a prelude to the fireworks that would follow.
National attention focused on two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal making his highly anticipated debut in a Dodgers uniform during Game 2, a tighter 5-1 Cubs triumph. Skubal even struck out Crow-Armstrong to start the bottom of the first. Yet, Crow-Armstrong soon found his rhythm. In the third inning, with the game tied 1-1, he singled and stole second, putting pressure on Skubal. Later, in the seventh, with the Cubs clinging to a precarious 2-1 lead and a runner on second with two outs, Crow-Armstrong delivered a crucial RBI single. He then stole second once more and scored on another single, showcasing his all-around offensive prowess. His line for the game included two hits in four at-bats, an RBI, a run, and a stolen base.
The Epic Duel: Game 3’s MVP Showdown
The series finale on Wednesday, a thrilling 7-6 Cubs victory, became an instant classic, largely due to the direct confrontation between the two MVP contenders. Shohei Ohtani, a four-time MVP, including the last two seasons with the Dodgers, ignited the game by leading off the top of the first with his 25th home run of the season. It was a powerful shot on the seventh pitch of his at-bat against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga. Not to be outdone, Pete Crow-Armstrong answered immediately in the bottom of the first, launching his own leadoff home run on the very first pitch he saw.
The back-and-forth continued. Crow-Armstrong followed up his leadoff blast with an RBI double in the second inning, contributing to a two-run rally that further extended the Cubs’ lead. He wasn’t finished, adding another two-run home run in the fourth inning, pushing the Cubs to a commanding 7-1 advantage. Ohtani, however, refused to fade. He recorded his own multi-homer game with an opposite-field two-run blast in the eighth inning, keeping the Dodgers’ hopes alive. The intensity of their individual performances was palpable, even leading to playful banter. Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel, who had coached Crow-Armstrong with Team USA, playfully chided him for serving as the designated hitter. Crow-Armstrong’s quick-witted response, “Well, it took your guy 10 pitches, it only took me one,” though a slight exaggeration of Ohtani’s seven-pitch at-bat, perfectly encapsulated the competitive spirit. Crow-Armstrong himself acknowledged the impressiveness of Ohtani’s initial homer, calling a “seven-pitch at-bat to start the game and finish it off with a 110 [mph] ball at 20 degrees pretty ridiculous.” For more details on this electrifying matchup, read the Los Angeles Times coverage.
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Mounting NL MVP Campaign: A New Frontrunner Emerges
The Cubs’ sweep and Crow-Armstrong’s stellar play have undeniably shifted the narrative around the National League MVP award. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who two weeks prior had confidently declared Ohtani the NL MVP, sounded less certain by Wednesday morning. While Ohtani remains one of baseball’s elite hitters, his recent inability to pitch has opened the door for a competitive race. Roberts acknowledged Crow-Armstrong’s surge, stating pre-game, “He’s having a heck of a year. He has rightfully made it a lot closer than most people expected.”
Both players, despite their individual brilliance and the burgeoning MVP talk, maintained a team-first perspective. Ohtani, speaking through interpreter Will Ireton, remarked, “Over the course of a season, there’s a lot of ups and downs. It’s too early to think about that. So in a way for me it’s more important for the team to win and for me to contribute to that.” Crow-Armstrong echoed a similar sentiment, admitting, “I would be crazy to say that I don’t want to win an MVP, but if we’re talking about team win…” The sentiment underscores the professionalism of both athletes, even as their individual achievements dominate headlines. His influence was felt throughout the series, culminating in a direct challenge to Ohtani’s long-held MVP favoritism. The full story of this developing rivalry can be found on CBS Sports.
The Cubs’ sweep not only sent the Dodgers to a season-worst sixth straight defeat but also solidified Pete Crow-Armstrong’s mounting NL MVP campaign as a legitimate threat to Shohei Ohtani’s reign. As the season progresses, every at-bat and defensive gem from these two superstars will be scrutinized, promising an exhilarating conclusion to one of baseball’s most compelling individual races.
