The Los Angeles Dodgers have been in a slump lately as they were swept by the Chicago Cubs, but the series finale featured a battle between the two favorites to win the 2026 National League Most Valuable Player Award.
Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong both did their best to lead their respective teams to victory, and they made MLB history in the process. While Ohtani was unsuccessful in helping the Dodgers win a game in the series, it wasn’t from his lack of hitting.
Ohtani picked up six hits in his 13 at-bats with three runs scored and three RBI in the three games at Wrigley Field. Crow-Armstrong also had six hits in 13 at-bats, but he tallied five runs scored, five RBI and two stolen bases to go along with it.
“He’s a great player, but I’m really focused on myself right now on the hitting side of things,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton when asked if there was extra motivation matching up against an MVP candidate. “And I’m really working toward hopefully getting back on the mound and working on that side of the game as well.”
For voters who may be looking for a reason not to vote for Ohtani, Crow-Armstrong continues to make a strong case this season, and he may have very well taken the lead as the MVP favorite. Although Ohtani wants to win a fourth consecutive MVP Award, he’s not letting that be his primary focus.
“Over the course of the season, there’s a lot of ups and downs, and it’s still too far away to think about,” Ohtani said. “So in a way for me, it’s more important for the team to win and for me to contribute to that win.”
Shohei Ohtani and PCA make MLB history
In the finale, both Ohtani and Crow-Armstrong hit leadoff home runs, which marked the first time in MLB history that both teams led off a game with lefty-on-lefty homers, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
In addition, both players had two-homer days on Wednesday. That was the third game in MLB history in which both leadoff hitters hit multiple home runs, including a leadoff homer, joining Brad Miller and Ben Zobrist on Aug. 13, 2013; and Chuck Knoblauch and Tony Phillips on June 5, 1994.
Additionally, Crow-Armstrong became the first player with two home runs, three extra-base hits and four RBI through four innings since Aaron Judge did so on March 29, 2025, against the Milwaukee Brewers. The last Cubs player to accomplish the feat had been Kris Bryant against the Cincinnati Reds in 2016.
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