Ohtani and PCA Spark Thrilling MVP Showdown in Series Finale

WHO:

MLB.com - Kevin Gausman was traded to the Cubs from the Blue Jays.

Sportskeeda - Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Dave Roberts (Dodgers manager).

MLB.com - Shohei Ohtani, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Eric Lauer (Dodgers pitcher), Shota Imanaga (Cubs pitcher).

WHAT:

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong is now the favorite to win the NL MVP at -120 odds after starting behind Ohtani in the race.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong's second home run in the game gave him 25 on the year, making him the first player in Cubs history to produce consecutive seasons of 25 home runs and 25 steals.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong now has the second-most home runs (67) in franchise history for a player before age 25, trailing only Ron Santo.

ESPN - Ohtani's second home run in the game was his 26th of the season, tying him with Crow-Armstrong.

ESPN - Ohtani has hit 135 home runs as a Dodger, ranking him among the top four Major Leaguers for home runs in their first three seasons with a team.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong's three hits Wednesday came off Eric Lauer, increasing his OPS against left-handers to .937 this year after it was .594 in 2025.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong's 60 walks this season were more than the past two seasons combined (50).

ESPN - Ohtani's current role as a DH has opened the door for Crow-Armstrong to win his first MVP.

ESPN - Ohtani's second home run in the eighth inning capped a five-run inning for the Dodgers.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong's second blast in the fourth inning gave him 25 on the year and made him the first player in Cubs history to produce consecutive seasons of 25 home runs and 25 steals.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong is the sixth player in MLB history to reach the 25-25 mark within his club's first 115 games of the season multiple times.

ESPN - Ohtani's second home run in the eighth inning tied him with Crow-Armstrong at 26 homers apiece.

ESPN - Ohtani has a 1.79 ERA this season.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong has a .938 OPS this season.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong is now the favorite to win the NL MVP at -120 odds after starting Wednesday behind Ohtani in the race.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong's second home run in the game gave him 25 on the year, making him the first player in Cubs history to produce consecutive seasons of 25 home runs and 25 steals.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong now has the second-most home runs (67) in franchise history for a player before age 25, trailing only Ron Santo.

ESPN - Ohtani's second home run in the game was his 26th of the season, tying him with Crow-Armstrong.

ESPN - Ohtani has hit 135 home runs as a Dodger, ranking him among the top four Major Leaguers for home runs in their first three seasons with a team.

ESPN - Ohtani's performance included a two-run shot in the eighth inning, contributing to a five-run inning for the Dodgers.

ESPN - The game marked just the second time in 50 years that both teams hit a leadoff homer at Wrigley Field.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong's blast was also his 25th, but he has paired that with 28 stolen bases.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong is now the only player in Cubs history to have a 25-25 showing in consecutive years.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong is the sixth player in MLB history to reach that mark within his club's first 115 games of the season multiple times.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong added his 26th homer of the season in the fourth inning, when he sent another Lauer pitch bouncing off the videoboard beyond the right-field bleachers.

ESPN - Ohtani had 6.4 wins above replacement this season between offense (3.4) and pitching (3.0) going into Wednesday’s game.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong carried a 7.5 fWAR into Wednesday’s game against the Dodgers.

ESPN - Ohtani entered play Wednesday batting .293/.397/.539 through 104 games, while Crow-Armstrong had a .284/.384/.535 slash line through 114 games.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong's three hits Wednesday came off Eric Lauer, increasing his OPS against left-handers to .937 this year after it was .594 in 2025.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong is now the favorite to win the NL MVP at -120 odds after starting Wednesday behind Ohtani in the race.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong's second home run in the game gave him 25 on the year, making him the first player in Cubs history to produce consecutive seasons of 25 home runs and 25 steals.

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong now has the second-most home runs (67) in franchise history for a player before age 25, trailing only Ron Santo.

MLB.com - Ohtani's second home run in the game was his 26th of the season, tying him with Crow-Armstrong.

MLB.com - Ohtani has hit 135 home runs as a Dodger, ranking him among the top four Major Leaguers for home runs in their first three seasons with a team.

MLB.com - Gausman is set to make his Cubs debut on Friday against the Royals.

MLB.com - Gausman has a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts this season.

NY Post - Ohtani and Crow-Armstrong each hit leadoff home runs in a game that ended with a score of 7-6 in favor of the Cubs.

MLB.com - Ohtani hit his 25th and 26th home runs of the season, while Crow-Armstrong also hit his 25th and 26th home runs.

MLB.com - Ohtani's performance included a two-run shot in the eighth inning, contributing to a five-run inning for the Dodgers.

MLB.com - The game marked just the second time in 50 years that both teams hit a leadoff homer at Wrigley Field.

WHERE:

NY Post - Wrigley Field, Chicago.

WHEN:

MLB.com - The game took place on a Wednesday afternoon.

WHY:

ESPN - Crow-Armstrong acknowledged afterward the MVP talk is kind of fun, stating, "I would be crazy to say that I don't want to win an MVP, but if we're talking about having priorities straight, I think mine are pretty straight."

ESPN - Ohtani said, "He's [PCA] a great player, but I'm really focused on myself right now."

MLB.com - Gausman expressed excitement about joining the Cubs, stating, "I’m really excited to be around these guys."

MLB.com - Ohtani's recent left knee issue has kept him from pitching since July 3, affecting his MVP candidacy.

MLB.com - Crow-Armstrong has developed a keen eye at the plate, leading to a significant increase in walks.

HOW:

ESPN - Ohtani's current role as a DH has opened the door for Crow-Armstrong to win his first MVP.

ESPN - Ohtani's current role as a DH only has opened the door for Crow-Armstrong to win his first MVP.

MLB.com - Gausman was on the Blue Jays’ team plane when he learned of the trade.

MLB.com - Ohtani hit a pitch from Shota Imanaga into the right-field bleachers to start the game.

MLB.com - Crow-Armstrong connected with a first-pitch fastball from Eric Lauer for his leadoff homer.

Crow-Armstrong has emerged as the favorite to win the NL MVP with odds of -120, after hitting his 25th home run of the season, making him the first player in Cubs history to achieve back-to-back seasons of 25 home runs and 25 steals. Meanwhile, Ohtani matched Crow-Armstrong's home run total with his own 26th, while also ranking among the top four Major Leaguers for home runs in their first three seasons with a team. Both players acknowledged the MVP race, with Crow-Armstrong expressing his desire to win while maintaining focus on his priorities, and Ohtani emphasizing his commitment to his own performance.