Pete Crow-Armstrong Surges as Top MVP Challenger to Shohei Ohtani

After correcting a mechanical issue, Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong has emerged as a premier MVP challenger to Shohei Ohtani. By successfully increasing his walk rate and reducing his chase rate, he has solidified his status as one of baseball's best, earning the number two spot in recent top 50 MLB player rankings for 2026. He is also featured as a top home run prop bet for the July 17 slate of games.